Cyperaceae

Leaf sheath closed or rarely open and then the perianth reduced to bristles or minute scales Cyperaceae
Flowers unisexual, female flowers enclosed in a flask-shaped utricle (Fig. 46 e,g) or in separate spikelets
Bristle absent from female flower or short and not exserted Carex
Spikes sessile or nearly so, erect to ascending in the fruiting stage. Utricle may be corky, beak 1 mm or less long
Utricle corky, obscurely veined but not ridged, smooth, 2–3.5 mm diam.; the beak c. 1 mm long, notched. Female spikes ovoid, 1.5–4 cm long, greenish, Leaves 15–30 mm long, up to 6 mm wide. Perennial with a creeping rhizome. Coast near the sea. Sand dunes Carex pumila
Utricle not corky, with several minutely scabrous ridges, 1–1.5 mm diam., beak c. 0.5 mm long