Flora of North America species comparison

prostrate, decumbent, or erect, usually light brown, simple or branched, sometimes slightly woody at base;

main branches arising from proximal part of plant.

decumbent to erect, straw colored, branched, often woody at base, often with exfoliations;

branches usually ascending.

ascending or spreading;

blade linear, usually subterete, sometimes flat, 10–50 × 0.8–1.7 mm, apex blunt to acute.

ascending, imbricate;

blade green or reddish, linear-lanceolate, adaxial surface flat, 10–60 × 0.5–2.5 mm, base not narrowed, apex acute;

proximal leaves usually withered, persistent or breaking apart into fibers, straw colored.

bisexual;

perianth actinomorphic to slightly irregular with segments subequal, 2–3.3 mm diam.;

perianth segments thin to abaxially rounded and occasionally distally hooded at maturity, without appendages, apex obtuse;

stigmas 2–3(–5).

bisexual;

perianth zygomorphic or irregular (one segment usually larger), 1.5–3(–3.5) mm diam.;

perianth segments abaxially rounded and keeled and distally hooded;

stigmas (2–)3.

monomorphic, lenticular, 1–2.2 mm diam.;

seed coat reddish brown or black, reticulate.

dimorphic;

lenticular, 1–1.3 mm diam., with seed coat black to reddish brown, obscurely reticulate, shiny;

or flat, 1.2–2 mm, with seed coat brown, dull.

on main stem and lateral branches, not crowded into compound, distal spikes, 1–4-flowered;

proximal bracts resembling leaves, distal bracts gradually reduced, 3–12 mm, slightly wider at the base.

in dense, mostly (2–)5–20 cm compound spikes; (1–)3–5-flowered;

bracts smaller than leaves, 5–20 mm, usually widest at base.

= 36.