Flora of North America species comparison

10-100 cm, usually erect.

3-16 cm, erect.

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.

1.6-5.5 cm, usually contracted, sometimes diffuse, lower branches erect or ascending, spikelets usually confined to the distal 1/2;

pedicels smooth, with tumid epidermal cells.

3.5-9 mm, with 2-7 florets.

3.5-7 mm, with 3-6 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.

slightly keeled over the back, veins distinct, apices acuminate to acute;

lower glumes 0.7-1.3 mm;

upper glumes 1.3-1.8 mm;

calluses glabrous or with 5 or fewer hairs shorter than 0.1 mm;

lemmas 2-2.5 mm, herbaceous, usually purple with whitish margins, smooth, glabrous or with a few hairs on the bases of the lateral veins, backs rounded, 5-veined, veins distinct, not extending to the margins, apical margins smooth, apices obtuse to truncate, entire or slightly erose;

palea veins smooth, glabrous;

anthers 0.6-0.9 mm.

0.5-1.7 mm, acute, obtuse, or truncate, entire;

blades usually involute and 0.4-0.7 mm in diameter, occasionally flat and 0.5-1.5 mm wide.

= 28, 42, 56.

= 14.