Flora of North America species comparison

erect, green-brown, simple or branched from base, not wiry, 2–5(–8) cm, glabrous.

erect, brown, simple, wiry, gnarled with age, 20–60 cm, glabrous.

± uniformly distributed, dense, not articulated to ocreae, basal leaves ± persistent, distal leaves gradually reduced to bracts;

ocrea 2–4(–5) mm, glabrous, proximal part cylindric, distal part deeply lacerate, disintegrating into white, curled fibers;

petiole absent;

blade 3-veined, without pleats, linear-lanceolate, subulate, 5–13(–20) × 0.4–1 mm, margins revolute, smooth, apex spine-tipped.

crowded at branch tips, not articulated to ocreae, basal leaves caducous or persistent, distal leaves abruptly reduced to bracts;

ocrea 6–10 mm, glabrous or papillose-scabridulous, proximal part cylindric, distal part silvery, deeply fringed, disintegrating;

petiole absent;

blade 3-veined, without pleats, linear to subulate, 3–15(–25) × 0.4–1.5 mm, margins flat, smooth, apex acuminate to spine-tipped.

axillary;

cymes in most axils, 1-flowered.

axillary;

cymes in distal axils, 1–2-flowered.

absent.

absent.

closed;

perianth 1.5–2(–2.5) mm;

tube 6–15% of perianth length;

tepals overlapping, usually reddish with white margins, petaloid, oblong, navicular, apex acute;

midveins unbranched;

stamens 8.

semi-open;

perianth 2.6–3.2 mm;

tube 18–33% of perianth length;

tepals overlapping, ± recurved, uniformly white to pink, petaloid, elliptic-oblong to obovate, navicular, apex rounded;

midveins unbranched;

stamens 8.

slightly exserted from perianth at maturity, dark brown, ovate, 1.2–1.6(–2) mm, faces subequal, shiny, smooth.

enclosed in perianth, light brown, lanceolate to oblong-ovate, 2.5–3 mm, faces subequal, shiny, smooth.