Flora of North America species comparison

leafless, or with 1–3 leaves toward base, 5–50 cm, glandular below inflorescence, glands dome-shaped to conical, 1/2–2 times longer than wide, rarely glandular-pubescent with coarse cylindrical hairs.

blades to 30 cm × 6 mm.

forming cylindric-ovate spikelike heads, 3–30-flowered, sometimes interrupted or open, 1–6.5 cm, glandular-pubescent;

bracts subtending pedicel in cluster;

bracteoles forming ascending, truncate, or shallowly 3-lobed involucre around pedicel, lobes spreading, occasionally cleft from proximal 1/3 to base, narrow, usually glabrous, margins usually entire or nearly so, apex rounded to acute.

borne in clusters of 3, proximal sometimes remote;

perianth white or yellowish;

tepals 3.8–5 mm, inner series slightly longer;

stamens 2.8–4 mm;

ovary ellipsoid, tapering gradually to style base;

styles distinct, 0.6–1.5 mm;

pedicel 1–9 mm.

ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, 3.5–7.5 mm, clearly longer than tepals and not enclosed by them, chartaceous, easily ruptured.

reddish brown, ca. 1 mm;

appendages 2, one at each end of seed, one contorted, 1–4 times longer than seed, other at opposite end, much shorter;

coat absent.