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Key to Rhynchospora

Cyperaceae

Rhynchospora

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1 Tubercles 3-23 mm long; style simple or bifid only at the tip; [subgenus Haplostylae]
1 Tubercles < 3 mm long; style divided into 2 slender stigmatic branches; [subgenus Diplostylae].
  2 Inflorescence bracts several, foliaceous, basally bright white, reflexed to horizontally spreading; [subgenus Diplostylae; section Dichromena]
  2 Inflorescence bracts 0-several, capillary to foliaceous, green throughout (stramineous in age), variously oriented.
    3 Bristles present, plumose (at least towards their bases); [subgenus Diplostylae; section Plumosae]
    3 Bristles absent, or present and smooth or minutely barbed.
      4 Bristles present, retrorsely barbed (at least towards their tips), or antrorsely barbed and straplike (flattened); [subgenus Diplostylae; section Albae]
      4 Bristles absent, or present and smooth, or antrorsely barbed and filiform.
        5 Achene surface transversely ridged, rugose, or honeycombed-reticulate (sometimes faintly so); [subgenus Diplostylae; sections Globulares, Harveyae, Mixtae, Psilocarya, Pusillae, and Rariflorae]