Flora of North America species comparison

short.

cespitose, 15–30(–35) cm.

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

sheath throat acutely angled, pilose;

basal leaf blade 5–10 cm × 3–8 mm, apex short acuminate, mostly glabrous;

cauline leaves (1–)2–4, 3–5 cm × 2–4 mm.

sheath throats densely hairy;

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

cauline leaves 2–3.

anthelate, few flowered;

main branches generally 2–4, spreading less than 90°, lax, usually arching;

proximal inflorescence bract 1 cm or less;

bracts and bracteoles brown;

margins with long curly cilia.

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.

solitary on short pedicels;

tepals dark purplish brown (margins finely lacerate toward apex), 2–2.5 mm, margins finely lacerate toward apex, apex acute, not reflexed;

anthers ± equaling filament length;

stigmas 2 times style 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.

dark brown, less than 2.5 mm, slightly longer than tepals;

beak absent.

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

dark reddish brown, cylindric, 1.2–1.6 mm;

caruncle essentially absent.

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

caruncle 0.2 mm.

= 24.

= 24.