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
Spikes sessile or nearly so, erect to ascending in the fruiting stage. Utricle may be corky, beak 1 mm or less long
Female spikes ovoid to oblong, 0.5–1.8 cm long, green. Utricle hairy. Leaves usually more than 20 cm long, up to 3 mm wide. Culms mostly up to 8 cm high. Rhizomatous perennial. Widespread. Usually in grassland Carex breviculmis
Female spikes oblong, (1)1.5–4 cm long, usually red-brownish. Utricle papillose. Leaves usually up to 30 cm long, c. 3 mm wide. Culms mostly more than 10 cm high. Tufted perennial up to 40 cm high. Coast in north of area. Damp places Carex maculata