Flora of North America species comparison

loosely cespitose, light green, 15–25 cm.

cespitose, straight, 10–30 cm, stiff.

sheaths dull brown-gray at base, becoming green distally, throats hairless;

basal leaves flat toward base, channeled toward apex, 4–16 cm × 3–8 mm, apex abruptly pointed, callous, glabrous.

basal leaves (with several outer dead ones usually present), to 9 cm × 3 mm, apex callous, sparingly pilose;

cauline leaves to 5 cm × 2 mm.

asymmetric in appearance;

glomerules (1–)2–5, central glomerules sessile or nearly sessile, 3–9 × 2.5–6 mm;

capillary branches 2–8, arched in 1 direction, to 3.5 cm;

proximal inflorescence bract bladeless.

glomerules 1(–3);

peduncles, not exceeding 5 mm;

proximal inflorescence bract conspicuous, leaflike, usually conspicuously exceeding inflorescence;

bracts mostly inconspicuous;

bracteoles clear or light to dark brown, occasionally to 1/2 tepal length.

tepals brownish translucent (apex lacerate to entire), 2–3 mm, apex lacerate to entire;

anthers equal to or exceeding filaments.

tepals with broad clear margins and apex (apex acute-acuminate), 1.9–2.5 mm, apex acute-acuminate;

outer whorl ± equaling to exceeding inner whorl;

anthers ± equaling filaments.

light chestnut brown, broadly 3-angled, shorter than tepals.

dark reddish, shining, ovoid, generally shorter than tepals.

most failing to mature, brown (with few hairs present), 3-angled, 0.9–1.1 mm, few hairs present;

caruncle barely visible.

translucent, brown, ellipsoid, 0.9–1.1 mm;

caruncle barely visible.

= 36.

= 24.