Flora of North America species comparison

stiffly erect, leafy, triangular, multiribbed.

arching or erect, leafy, nearly terete, multiribbed, slender.

erect, distal ones overtopping inflorescence;

principal blades flat proximally, trigonous distally, 3–10 mm wide, apex attenuate.

terminal and axillary, clusters of corymbs (1–)2–3, open, spikelet clusters loose;

bracteal leaves mostly overtopping corymbs.

spikelet clusters 2–6, mostly widely spaced;

clusters dense, hemispheric to mostly spheroid, 0.5–1 cm thick.

pale redbrown, narrowly lanceoloid, (9–)11–14 mm, apex acuminate;

fertile scales lanceolate, 9–13 mm, apex acuminate, midrib shortexcurrent or not.

dark redbrown to dark brown, lanceovoid, (2–)2.5–3.5(–4) mm, apex acute;

fertile scales elliptic, 2–3 mm, apex acute, midrib shortexcurrent or not.

perianth bristles 5–6, extending at least 5 mm beyond tubercle base, antrorsely barbellate.

perianth bristles 6, reaching tubercle tip, retrorsely barbellate.

1–2 per spikelet, 15–20 mm;

body stipitate, obovoid to oblong, compressed, 4–5 × 2–3 mm, margins thick;

surfaces concave, horizontally finely striate, minutely cancellate;

tubercle stoutbased, grooved, subulate, 10–15 mm, setulose.

1 per spikelet, 2.5–3 mm;

body pale brown with light center, lenticular, obovoid distal to stipe, 1.1–1.5 × 0.9–1.1 mm, margins pale, wirelike, surfaces slick;

tubercle triangularsubulate, 0.9–1.2(–1.5) mm, at least 0.5 mm wide at base.

leaves overtopped by culm;

blades linear, proximally flattened, 1–3 mm wide, apex tapering, trigonous.