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

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Lowermost spike on each culm subtended by a bract more than twice as long as the spike. Utricle with a prominent beak, c. 1.5 mm diam., rugose, strongly, laterally ribbed. Male spikelets at the base of the individual spikes (occasionally 2 at the summit). Utricle with a very short entire beak. Widespread. Grassland and open forest Carex inversa

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Lowermost spike on each culm subtended by a bract as long as or up to twice as long as the spike