Flora of North America species comparison

5-60 cm, erect to decumbent.

(6)9-20 (35) cm, erect or decumbent.

basally concentrated on small plants, distributed along the culms in larger plants;

ligules 1-3 mm, acute, obtuse, or truncate, entire;

blades 1-2 mm wide when flat, 0.5-1.6 mm in diameter when involute.

2.5-20 cm, diffuse at maturity, lower branches horizontal to descending, spikelets usually confined to the distal 2/3, pedicels scabrous, lacking tumid epidermal cells.

(3)6-12(14) cm, diffuse or contracted and usually barely exserted from the sheaths at maturity, lower branches ascending to horizontal, spikelets usually confined to the distal 2/3;

pedicels slightly scabrous, epidermal cells tumid.

2.5-7 mm, with 2-7 florets.

4-8 mm, with (2)4-5(6) florets.

rounded over the back, veins obscure, apices acute to truncate;

lower glumes 0.4-1.3 mm;

upper glumes 0.9-1.8 mm;

calluses with a few hairs;

lemmas 1.5-2(2.2) mm, mostly herbaceous, glabrous or sparsely hairy on the lower 1/2, principally along the veins, backs rounded, 5-veined, veins obscure, not extending to the margins, apical margins hyaline and often yellowish, uniformly and densely scabrous, apices widely obtuse to truncate, entire;

palea veins shortly ciliate proximally, glabrous, sometimes scabrous distally;

anthers 0.4-0.8 mm.

rounded over the back, veins distinct or obscure, margins not inrolled, apices broadly acute or obtuse;

lower glumes 1.3-2.1 mm;

upper glumes 1.3-2.6(3.4) mm;

calluses with a few hairs;

lemmas 2.8-4 mm, herbaceous, thin, often translucent, bases hairy, particularly on the veins, backs rounded, 5-veined, veins obscure, not extending to the margins, lateral margins usually not inrolled, apical margins uniformly and densely scabrous, apices broadly acute or obtuse, entire or slightly erose;

palea veins glabrous proximally, scabrous distally;

anthers 0.7-1.1(1.2) mm.

0.8-1.2 mm, obtuse to truncate, usually entire;

blades 1-7 mm wide, flat to involute.

= 14, 28, 42.

= 56.