Flora of North America species comparison

10-90 cm, usually erect, sometimes decumbent.

5-60 cm, erect to decumbent.

usually distributed evenly along the culms;

ligules 1-3 mm, obtuse to truncate, entire;

blades 1.5-6 mm wide when flat, flat to involute.

5-30 cm, compact to diffuse at maturity, lower branches usually erect to ascending, occasionally spreading to descending, spikelet-bearing from near the base or the spikelets confined to the distal 1/2;

pedicels from sparsely to densely scabrous, epidermal cells often tumid.

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.

3.5-12 mm, with 3-7 florets.

2.5-7 mm, with 2-7 florets.

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

lower glumes 1-1.6 mm;

upper glumes 2-3 mm;

calluses with a few hairs;

lemmas (2.2)3-4.5(5) mm, herbaceous, glabrous or sparsely hairy on the proximal 1/2, principally along the veins, backs rounded, 5-veined, veins obscure, not extending to the margins, midveins smooth distally, apical margins uniformly and densely scabrous, apices usually acute to obtuse, sometimes acuminate, entire;

palea veins glabrous or with short hairs proximally, scabrous distally;

anthers 0.5-1.4 mm.

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.

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

blades 1-7 mm wide, flat to involute.

= 42, 56.

= 14, 28, 42.