Flora of North America species comparison

15-95 cm, erect or geniculate at the base, sometimes rooting at the lower nodes;

nodes 3-6.

(85)100-150 cm, erect.

glabrous;

ligules 2-6 mm;

blades 3-29 cm long, 3-8 mm wide, adaxial surfaces slightly scabridulous.

glabrous or pubescent, sometimes scabridulous;

ligules 2-7 mm;

blades 10-40 cm long, 5-14 mm wide, apices acute or acuminate and sharply mucronate, flag leaves often reduced to spinose tips.

8-35 cm, with 6-13 spikelets;

internodes 1-6 cm;

pedicels 1-5.5(9) mm, ascending to spreading.

(10)20-35 cm, with 6-14 spikelets;

internodes 2-5.6(8) cm;

pedicels 2-3 mm long, reflexed at maturity.

15-60 mm, ascending to spreading, with 7-20(30) florets, lower florets bisexual, upper florets pistillate, terminal florets sterile.

(20)25-28 mm, pendent, with 7-14 florets, usually all but the terminal floret bisexual.

lanceolate to broadly ovate;

lower glumes 1-4.5 mm;

upper glumes 2-6.5 mm, 1-3-veined;

rachilla internodes 1-2.8 mm long, 0.2-0.5 mm thick, with a glandular swelling at the base;

lemmas 4.5-7.5 mm, 7(9)-veined, veins distinct, often prominent, apices truncate or emarginate, unawned or awned, awns to 11 mm;

paleal keels scabridulous, each with a 0.5-2.5 mm triangular, winglike appendage, often denticulate beyond the appendage;

anthers 2.5-4 mm.

frequently scabrous, apices obtuse, sometimes erosely notched;

lower glumes 3-6 mm;

upper glumes 4-7(8.3) mm, 3-veined;

rachilla internodes 2-3 mm long, about 0.1 mm thick, bases sometimes weakly differentiated into a glandular swelling;

lemmas 8-10 mm, faintly 7(9)-veined, lateral veins occasionally prominent, apices truncate, sometimes toothed, awned, awns (5)9-20 mm;

paleal keels each with a 0.2-0.6(1) mm triangular appendage;

anthers 3.5-4 mm.

2.5-3.1 mm.

4.5-6 mm.

=32, 36.