Flora of North America species comparison

10-100 cm, usually erect.

10-25 cm, usually decumbent or geniculate.

either concentrated at the base or distributed along the culms;

ligules 1-3 mm, obtuse, usually entire, sometimes slightly erose;

blades 1-4 mm wide, flat to involute.

5-30 cm, compact to diffuse at maturity, usually distinctly exserted from the sheaths, lower branches usually erect to diverging, occasionally descending, spikelet-bearing from the base or on the distal 2/3;

pedicels scabrous, lacking tumid epidermal cells.

(3.5) 5-8 cm, diffuse or contracted at maturity, lowest node almost always with 2 branches, lower branches ascending to horizontal in fruit, spikelets usually confined to the distal 1/3;

pedicels smooth or scabrous, with tumid epidermal cells.

3.5-9 mm, with 2-7 florets.

5-7(9.5) mm, with (2)4-5(7) florets.

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

lower glumes 0.5-1.5 mm, usually less than 1/2 as long as the adjacent lemmas;

upper glumes 1-2.8 mm;

rachilla internodes slightly and gradually broadened to the point of attachment with the lemmas;

calluses with a few hairs;

lemmas (2)2.2-3(3.5) 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, smooth distally, lateral margins inrolled or not, apical margins uniformly and densely scabrous, apices acute to obtuse, entire;

palea veins glabrous, short-ciliate, or with a few long hairs proximally, smooth or scabrous distally;

anthers 0.6-2 mm.

rounded over the back, veins obscure, apices acute;

lower glumes 1-2 mm;

upper glumes 2-3 mm, often borne distinctly above the lower glumes;

calluses glabrous or hairy;

lemmas (3) 3.2-4(4.5) mm, herbaceous or membranous, glabrous or sparsely hairy on the bases of the veins, backs rounded, 5-veined, veins obscure, not extending to the margins, apical margins smooth or scabrous, not white, apices usually acute, occasionally rounded, irregularly serrate or erose;

palea veins glabrous, smooth proximally, scabrous distally;

anthers 0.8-1.2 mm.

1-2.8(3.3) mm, acute, obtuse, or truncate, entire or slightly erose;

blades usually involute and 0.5-1 mm in diameter, sometimes flat and 0.8-2 mm wide.

= 28, 42, 56.

= 56.