Flora of North America species comparison

30-80 cm, mostly erect, smooth below the panicles;

nodes slightly compressed, 2-5 exserted, top node at 1/2 - 3/4 the culm length.

5-120 cm, terete or slightly compressed;

nodes terete or slightly compressed.

closed for 1/10 – 1/5 their length, terete, bases of basal sheaths glabrous, distal sheath lengths 0.45-1 (1.1) times blade lengths;

ligules 0.2-0.8(1) mm, sparsely to densely scabrous, apices truncate, minutely ciliolate;

blades 0.8-3 mm wide, mostly flat, appressed, abruptly ascending to spreading, straight or somewhat lax, apices narrowly prow-shaped.

closed for 1/10 – 1/5 their length, terete or slightly compressed, smooth or sparsely scabrous, distal sheaths shorter or longer than their blades;

ligules 0.2-6 mm, usually scabrous, sometimes smooth, apices truncate or obtuse and usually ciliolate, or acute and not ciliolate;

blades 0.8-8 mm wide, mostly flat, sometimes folded, moderately thin, abruptly ascending to spreading, lax or straight, margins scabrous, adaxial surfaces usually scabrous over the veins, apices narrowly prow-shaped.

all or mostly extravaginal.

all or mostly extravaginal.

7-16(20) cm, lengths usually 2.5-4 times widths at maturity, usually erect, lax in shade forms, narrowly lanceoloid to ovoid, slightly to moderately congested;

nodes with 2-5 branches;

branches ascending to widely spreading, fairly straight, slender to moderately stout, angled, angles moderately to densely scabrous.

1-30(41) cm, erect or lax, open, narrowly lanceoloid to ovoid, sparse to moderately congested;

nodes with 2-9 branches;

branches 0.4-15 cm, erect to reflexed, angled, angles scabrous.

3-8 mm, lengths 2.5-3.5 times widths, narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, laterally compressed, usually not glaucous;

florets (1)2-5;

rachilla internodes usually shorter than 1 mm, smooth, muriculate, or scabrous, usually puberulent, infrequently hispidulous or glabrous.

3-8(9) mm, lengths 2-3.5 times widths, narrowly lanceolate to narrowly ovate, laterally compressed, rarely bulbiferous;

florets (1)2-5, bisexual, rarely bulb-forming;

rachilla internodes mostly shorter than 1 mm, frequently muriculate or scabrous or pubescent.

subulate to narrowly lanceolate, distinctly keeled, keels smooth or sparsely scabrous, apices sharply acute to acuminate;

lower glumes 3-veined, long-tapered to a slender point, lengths 6.4-11 times widths;

upper glumes shorter than or subequal to the lowest lemmas;

calluses webbed, hairs sparse, often short;

lemmas 2.4-4 mm, proximal lemma widths less than 1/5 times lengths, narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, distinctly keeled, keels and marginal veins short-villous, lateral veins glabrous, obscure, intercostal regions smooth or muriculate, glabrous, margins glabrous, apices acute, usually partially bronze-colored;

palea keels scabrous, intercostal regions glabrous;

anthers 0.8-1.9 mm.

subulate to broadly lanceolate, distinctly keeled, keels smooth or sparsely scabrous;

lower glumes 3-veined;

calluses terete or slightly laterally compressed, glabrous or dorsally webbed;

lemmas 2-4 mm, narrowly to broadly lanceolate, distinctly keeled, coriaceous-membranous, usually finely muriculate, keels and marginal veins long- to short-villous, intercostal regions glabrous or softly puberulent to short-villous, lateral veins obscure, apices usually partially bronze-colored;

palea keels scabrous, sometimes softly puberulent at midlength, intercostal regions glabrous or puberulent;

anthers 3, 0.8-2.5 mm.

= 28, 35, 42, 48, 50, 56.