Flora of North America species comparison

short, stocky.

loosely cespitose, light green, 15–25 cm.

cespitose, 8–40 cm ×1 mm, base thickened, glabrous.

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 to 13 cm;

cauline leaves 1–3, mostly less than 5 cm × 5–10 mm, apex involute, glabrous.

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.

compact, irregular in shape;

glomerules 6–10, sessile;

branches few or none;

proximal inflorescence bract conspicuous, leaflike, lanceolate, equal to or exceeding inflorescences;

bracteoles clear, 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 shining brown, with thin clear margins, 1.5–2 mm;

outer and inner whorls nearly equal, (outer whorl slightly keeled);

anthers longer than filaments;

stigmas much longer than styles.

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

deep purplish brown at maturity, globose (apex rounded), ± equaling tepals, apex rounded.

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

caruncle barely visible.

brown, cylindric, 1.3 mm;

caruncle absent.

= 36.