Flora of North America species comparison

sometimes in tufts, erect, stout to slender or almost filiform, 20–70 cm, glabrous or hairy, especially on angles distally.

erect, slender, 15–65(–75) cm, hairy or glabrous.

sheaths sometimes purplish, not or scarcely winged, weakly ribbed, densely pubescent or glabrous;

contra-ligules subrotund to triangular, short;

blades linear, keeled, obtuse, shorter than, equaling, or overtopping culm, 1–7 mm wide, ciliate or glabrous.

sheaths green to brownish or reddish, not or scarcely winged, weakly ribbed, hirsute or glabrous;

contra-ligule minute, obtuse, or absent;

blades linear, ribbed, usually much shorter than inflorescences, 1.5–4(–5) mm wide, pubescent or more rarely glabrous.

terminal and axillary, fasciculate, 0.5–2.5 cm;

clusters few to many flowered, 5–10 mm wide, each with 2–4(–5) spikelets;

axillary clusters sometimes on short erect to slender filiform peduncles;

bracts subtending inflorescence leaflike, awl-shaped, to 15+ cm, often appearing to be continuation of culm, conspicuously ciliate or glabrous.

terminal, unbranched, glomerate-spicate, 4–8(–12) cm;

glomerules 3–9(–11), inserted in longitudinal concavities in rachis, open, nodding or reflexed, greenish to reddish brown, 4–7 mm wide, each with 2–7(–8) spikelets;

bract occasionally subtending proximalmost glomerule, attenuate, 1–2.5 cm.

bisexual and staminate, 4–8 mm; staminate scales lanceolate, membranous; pistillate scales ovate-acuminate, midrib conspicuous.

bisexual and staminate, 4–5 mm; staminate spikelets many flowered; staminate scales lance-acuminate, pistillate scales ovate-acuminate.

whitish or often brownish gray, globose, 2–3 mm, base constricted, trigonous, apex usually umbonate, tuberculate or verrucose, rarely smooth, papillate at base;

hypogynium golden brown, obtusely 3-angled border, supporting 3 yellowish, globose, spiculose or pulverulent, entire or 2-lobed tubercles.

sordid white or gray, trigonous, ovoid to subglobose, 1–2 mm, smooth, shining, base broadly cuneate-attenuate, apex mucronate, hypogynium obsolete, represented by narrow brownish ridge or band at base of achene.