Flora of North America species comparison

30-100 (120) cm.

40-100 (120) cm tall, 2-4(5) mm thick near the base.

usually keeled below, glabrous;

ligules 0.2-0.5 mm;

blades (6)10-30(50) cm long, 1-5 mm wide, flat, glabrous on both surfaces.

rounded below, margins hairy, particularly distally, hairs to 3 mm, apices with conspicuous tufts of hair;

ligules 0.4-1 mm;

blades (2)4-35 cm long, 3-8 mm wide, flat to involute, glabrous on both surfaces, margins whitish, somewhat scabridulous.

20-35(50) cm long, 0.3-2.2(3) cm wide, contracted, narrow, sometimes included in the uppermost sheath;

primary branches 0.4-2.5(5) cm, appressed or spreading to 40° from the rachis, as long or longer than the adjacent internodes;

secondary branches appressed, spikelet-bearing to near the base;

pulvini glabrous;

pedicels 0.1-1.8 mm, appressed.

all terminal, (10)15-45(50) cm long, 0.2-0.8(1) cm wide, contracted, spikelike, dense, usually included in the uppermost sheath;

lower nodes with 1-2(3) branches;

primary branches 0.3-1.5 cm, appressed, spikelet-bearing to the base;

secondary branches appressed;

pulvini glabrous;

pedicels 0.2-2 mm, appressed, scabridulous.

2-2.6(2.7) mm, plumbeous to light brownish.

1.7-3.2 mm, whitish to plumbeous.

subequal, ovate or obovate, membranous;

lower glumes 0.5-1 mm, often without midveins;

upper glumes 0.8-1.6 mm, 1/2 - 2/3 as long as the florets, acute to obtuse, entire;

lemmas 1.8-2.6(2.7) mm, ovate, membranous, glabrous, acute or obtuse;

paleas 1.9-2.4 mm, ovate, membranous, glabrous;

anthers 3, 0.5-1.1 mm, white, sometimes purple-tinged.

unequal, narrowly lanceolate, membranous, prominently keeled;

lower glumes 0.7-1.7 mm, usually 1-veined, acute to acuminate;

upper glumes 2-3.2 mm, at least 2/3 as long as the florets;

lemmas 2-3.2 mm, linear-lanceolate, membranous, glabrous, acute;

paleas 1.8-3 mm, linear-lanceolate, membranous, glabrous;

anthers 3, 0.3-0.5 mm, light yellowish.

1-1.2 mm, quadrangular, laterally compressed, reddish-brown, truncate.

0.8-1.2 mm, ellipsoid, laterally flattened, light brownish or translucent.

= 18, 24, 36.

= 36.