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 short glumaceous bract

Inflorescence with up to 12 spikes clustered into a head or very short raceme usually up to 3 cm long at the top of the culm.

Inflorescence of more than 12 spikes in a raceme or panicle usually more than 5 cm long at the top of the culm (rarely less in C. tereticaulis)