Flora of North America species comparison

often arching to decumbent, cylindric, ridged when dry, 0.05–0.8 m × 0.5–1 mm.

3–4, 1 cauline;

sheaths straw-colored to brown and disintegrating to fibers, front translucent and splitting;

blades 1–2, proximally thickly C-shaped in cross section, distally flat, from much shorter to longer than sheath, 1–200+ × 0.2–1 mm, smooth or margins distally spinulose.

capitate or 1 spikelet or rarely with 1 or 2 branches to 12 mm;

proximal bract erect, resembling leaf blades, 5–150 mm.

achenes blackish brown, plano-convex or usually the adaxial surface longitudinally concave, ovoid to obovoid, 1.3–1.7 × 1.2–1.3 mm, with 15–18 mostly sharp ridges;

beak 0.1 mm.

perianth absent;

anthers 0.4 mm;

styles 2-fid.

achenes thickly trigonous with convex abaxial face, 1.7–2.5 × 1.1–1.6 mm, rugose with rounded ridges;

beak 0.3 mm.

= 22.