Flora of North America species comparison

compact.

compact.

in narrow fans, 4–15 cm;

sheaths reddish, soft, papillate;

blade deep green, narrowly linear, 0.8–2(–3) mm wide, smooth, margins smooth to papillate.

ascending in narrow fans, 6–30 cm;

sheaths pinkish, soft, smooth;

blade pale green to pale red-brown, narrowly linear, 1–2(–3) mm wide, smooth, margins smooth.

scape sheaths exceeded by leaves;

scapes linear, wiry, terete, (0.25–)0.5–0.8(–1) mm wide, distally with 2–4 ribs, ribs papillate;

spikes broadly to narrowly ellipsoid or ovoid, 4–8 mm;

fertile bracts 3–4(–4.5) mm, margins erose or minutely fimbriolate, sometimes with narrow reddish border, apex very slightly to slightly keeled.

scape sheaths exceeded by leaves;

scapes linear, slightly twisted, nearly terete, 0.7–1 mm, smooth, distally striate or 1-ribbed;

spikes ellipsoid to narrowly obovoid, 10–16 mm;

fertile bracts 4–6 mm, margins entire, aging to erose, apex rounded.

lateral sepals slightly exserted, straight, 4.2–4.7 mm, keel scarious, entire or apically lacerate, apex red, narrow, firm;

petals unfolding in morning, blade obovate, 3–4 mm;

staminodes bearded.

lateral sepals exserted, linear-curvate, 0.5–1 mm longer than subtending bract, keel scarious, lacero-ciliate, apex not red, thin, lacero-fimbriate;

petals unfolding around noon or in afternoon, blade obovate, 3.5 mm;

staminodes bearded.

translucent, narrowly ellipsoid, (0.6–)0.7–0.9(–1) mm, finely lined.

translucent, ellipsoid, 0.4–0.6 mm, distinctly longitudinally ribbed with few, indistinct cross ribs.