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
Lowermost spikes, or collection of spikes, on each culm, subtended by a short glumaceous bract
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)
Utricle glabrous, margins not winged, distinctly 3-angular or plano-convex; beak c. 2 mm long, notched, smooth. Tufted herb with often septate-nodulose, sharply scabrous leaves which are shorter than culms. Widespread. RF and WSF Carex declinata
Utricles hispid along slightly winged margins