Flora of North America species comparison

thickened.

cespitose, 9–35 cm.

densely cespitose, reddish, 3–33 cm, base thick, extending 1–8 cm into soil.

basal leaves 6–11.5 cm × 1.5–4 mm, apex not callous, sparingly ciliate.

sheath throats densely hairy;

basal leaves erect, channeled, linear, 2–15 cm × 1–4 mm, apex not callous;

cauline leaves 2–3.

umbellate-paniculate;

glomerules 4–30 (each with 9–24 flowers), central glomerules sessile or nearly sessile, cylindric, 6–10 × 4 mm;

branches straight, erect, to 3 cm;

proximal inflorescence bract conspicuous, leaflike, equal to much longer than inflorescence;

bracts clear, sometimes variegated with purple;

bracteole margins dentate to lacerate.

panicles of dense, nodding, spikelike clusters (each 1–25 mm), often interrupted by 10–70 mm;

proximal inflorescence bract conspicuous, generally exceeding inflorescence;

bracts clear;

bracteoles clear, margins ciliate, apex narrow, extended.

tepals clear to straw-colored throughout or centers brown with clear margins and apex, 1.5–2.6 mm;

outer whorl exceeding inner whorl, (outer whorl apex awned);

anthers equaling to 1.5 times filament length.

tepals brown with clear margins or very pale throughout (outer whorl bristle-pointed), 2–2.5 mm;

outer whorl longer than inner whorl;

anthers ± equaling filaments.

light or dark reddish, shining, spheric, usually equaling inner tepal whorl.

pale to dark brown or blackish, round (apex ± acute), generally shorter than tepals, apex ± acute.

translucent brown, ellipsoid, 0.7–1 mm;

caruncle 0.2–0.3 mm.

brown, cylindric-ovoid, body 1–1.2 mm;

caruncle 0.2 mm.

= 12.

= 24.