Flora of North America species comparison

densely to loosely cespitose, 10–40 cm.

cespitose, straight, 10–30 cm, stiff.

basal leaves 3.5–12 cm × 2–6 mm;

cauline leaves equaling or exceeding inflorescences.

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.

glomerules 3–16 (each with 8–16 flowers), 1–2 nearly sessile with others on evident peduncles, mostly cylindric;

secondary branches sometimes present, usually straight, erect;

proximal inflorescence bract barely as long as to exceeding inflorescence.

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 pale brown to chestnut brown to blackish with clear margins, 2–4 mm;

outer and inner whorl ± equal, or outer whorl slightly longer (outer whorl pointed, inner whorl pointed or truncate-mucronate);

anthers not more than 2 times filament length;

stigmas 0.8–1.5 mm;

styles not persistent in fruit.

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.

pale to brown to black, globose, shorter than to ± equaling tepals.

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

1.1–1.7 mm;

caruncles 0.2–0.6 mm.

translucent, brown, ellipsoid, 0.9–1.1 mm;

caruncle barely visible.

= 24.