Flora of North America species comparison

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.

5–55 cm, coarsely glandular-pubescent below inflorescence, hairs usually cylindrical, 4–6 times longer than wide, or stems occasionally clavate and glands absent.

blades to 50 cm × 8 mm.

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.

spikelike, 3–24-flowered, forming cylindrical-ovate heads, sometimes interrupted or open, 1–4.5 cm;

bracteoles often glandular.

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.

tepals 3–5 mm;

stamens 3–4.2 mm;

styles 0.7–1.5 mm;

pedicel 2–12 mm.

ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, 4–9 mm, clearly longer than tepals and not enclosed by them, chartaceous, easily ruptured.

4–7.5 mm.

reddish brown, ca. 1 mm;

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

coat white, inflated, reticulate.

3–4 times longer than wide;

appendages usually 2, one at each end, one often highly contorted, to 4 times longer than seed, the other short;

coat not strongly inflated.

= 30.