Flora of North America species comparison

many-stemmed (branched), with stems in successive false whorls, terete;

whorls terminating in clusters of leaves essentially indistinguishale from stems.

sheaths, tubular, transparent, or scalelike when subtending stems;

ligules absent;

blades absent.

terminal;

spikelets 1;

involucral bracts absent.

borne singly on branches arising from among leaves;

scales 2, distichous, proximal empty, distal subtending flower.

bisexual;

perianth bristles 6–11, straight or curved, slightly longer than achene, retrorsely spinulose;

stamens 3;

styles persistent, linear, 2-fid, base slightly enlarged.

biconvex.