Carex L.

Bristle absent from female flower or short and not exserted Carex

Lowermost spikes, or collection of spikes, on each culm, subtended by a leafy bract as long as or longer than the spike

Spikes ovoid, 3–10 mm long, yellowish-green or green, often all clustered together into a ± ovoid head or racemose

Spikes oblong, more than 10 mm long, brownish to blackish-green