Flora of North America species comparison

(20)40-200 cm, erect or decumbent;

nodes puberulent;

internodes pubescent, at least below the nodes.

usually with papillose-based hairs, margins shortly ciliate;

collars pubescent;

ligules 1-1.8 mm;

blades 7-24 cm long, 5-20 mm wide, softly pubescent on both surfaces, margins ciliate basally, scabrous distally.

8-24 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, with spikelike primary branches in more than 2 ranks;

primary branches 1-8 cm long, 0.3-0.4 mm wide, appressed to ascending, axes triquetrous, pubescent, with some papillose-based hairs;

secondary branches present on the lower branches, short, appressed;

pedicels shorter than the spikelets, usually with papillose-based hairs distally.

4.8-6 mm long, 1.8-2 mm wide, mostly paired, in 2-4 rows, appressed to the branches.

scarcely separate, rachilla internodes short, not pronounced;

lower glumes 2.4-3.2 mm, to 1/2 as long as the spikelets, 5-7-veined, glabrous or sparsely pubescent distally;

upper glumes 4-5.5 mm, glabrous or sparsely pilose, 7-9-veined;

lower florets staminate (sterile);

lower lemmas 4.7-6 mm, glabrous or sparsely pilose, 5-veined;

lower paleas present;

upper lemmas 3.6-4.1 mm long, 1.7-1.9 mm wide, apices acute, beaked;

anthers (1.6) 2.2-2.7 mm.

2-3 mm;

hilas linear, about 1/2 as long as the caryopses.

= 54.