Flora of North America species comparison

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

mostly ascending or erect, branched from base, not wiry, 20–80 cm.

± 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.

ocrea 7–9 mm, proximal part cylindic, distal part disintegrating into straight fibers;

petiole 0.2–1 mm;

blade green or bluish green, linear to lanceolate, 25–40 × 4–8 mm, margins flat, apex acute;

stem leaves 2–4 times as long as branch leaves;

distal leaves abruptly reduced and not overtopping flowers (shorter than or equaling flowers).

axillary;

cymes in most axils, 1-flowered.

axillary and terminal, spikelike;

cymes aggregated at tips of stems and branches, 1–3-flowered.

absent.

enclosed in ocreae, 1.5–2 mm.

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.

closed or semi-open;

perianth 2.2–3 mm;

tube 15–30% of perianth length;

tepals overlapping, green with white to pink margins, petaloid, not keeled, oblong, cucullate;

veins branched;

stamens 8.

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

slightly exserted from perianth, light brown to dark brown, ovate, 3-gonous, 2–2.3(–2.8) mm, faces subequal, concave, apex not beaked, edges concave, dull, striate-tubercled; late-season achenes uncommon, 2.5–4 mm.