Flora of North America species comparison

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

densely cespitose, stiffly erect, reddish brown, 3–26 cm.

sheath throats densely hairy;

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

cauline leaves 2–3.

basal leaves reddish, 2.5–7 cm × 2–5 mm, firm, apex callous, glabrous.

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.

pyramidal, 5–10 mm wide;

glomerules 1–5, sessile, sometimes with 1–2 smaller glomerules on short peduncles;

proximal inflorescence bract conspicuous, reddish, usually exceeding inflorescence, generally stiff;

bracteoles clear.

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 very dark with clear margins, 2–3 mm;

outer whorl slightly exceeding inner whorl;

anthers ± equaling filaments.

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

dark brown to black in distal portion, much shorter than tepals; (beak 0.3 mm).

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

caruncle 0.2 mm.

dark brown, oval, 0.8 mm;

caruncle about 0.2 mm.

= 24.

= 20, 22.