Flora of North America species comparison

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

cespitose, straight, 10–30 cm, stiff.

sheath throats densely hairy;

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

cauline leaves 2–3.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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

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

caruncle 0.2 mm.

translucent, brown, ellipsoid, 0.9–1.1 mm;

caruncle barely visible.

= 24.

= 24.