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.

leafless, or with 1–3 leaves towards base, 10–80 cm, variously glandular-hairy or only glandular below inflorescence, glands uniformly 4–6 times longer than wide.

blades to 30 cm × 6 mm.

blades to 50 cm × 8 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.

forming globose or cylindric-ovoid, spikelike heads, 3–45-flowered, sometimes interrupted or open, 1–8 cm, glandular-pubescent;

bracts subtending pedicel in cluster;

bracteoles shallowly and symmetrically 3-lobed to cleft from proximal 1/3 to base, lobes rounded to acute, often markedly unequal.

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.

usually borne in clusters of 3, proximal sometimes remote;

perianth white or yellowish;

tepals 3–7 mm, inner series somewhat longer and narrower;

stamens 3–6 mm;

ovary ellipsoid, tapering gradually to style base;

styles distinct, 0.6–3 mm;

pedicel 1–12 mm.

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

ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, 4–9 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.

reddish brown, ca. 1 mm;

appendages 1 or 2 with one at each end, rarely absent;

coat white, inflated, reticulate.