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

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)