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Key to Carex, Key D: Subkey in Carex

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1 Pistillate spikes all from the base of the plant
1 Pistillate spikes all or in part borne on the elongate, aboveground stem.
  2 Bracts of the lowermost non-basal spike with well-developed sheath > 4 mm long.
    3 Beak of perigynium with distinct teeth > 0.6 mm long
    3 Beak of perigynium entire, notched, or with indistinct teeth < 0.6 mm long.
      4 Bracts of the lowermost non-basal spike bladeless, or with a blade < 2 mm long.
        5 Perigynia 2.0-2.9 mm long; leaf blades 0.9-3.3 mm wide
        5 Perigynia 4-5 mm long; leaf blades 4-8 mm wide
      4 Bracts of the lowermost non-basal spike with blade > 3 mm long (and often much longer).
          6 Achene tip with persistent, enlarged, circular style base
          6 Achene tip with at most a short apiculus.
             7 Leaves pubescent or pilose
             7 Leaves usually glabrous, to scabrous on the veins.
               8 Bases of plants brown
               8 Bases of plants distinctly red or purple.
                 9 Lowermost pistillate scales awned; leaves somewhat septate-nodulose; plants usually long-rhizomatous and forming large clonal colonies
                 9 Lowermost pistillate scales obtuse to acuminate; leaves not septate-nodulose; plants cespitose, short-rhizomatous
  2 Bracts of the lowermost non-basal spike sheathless or with sheath < 4 mm long.
                   10 Perigynia > 10 mm long.
                     11 Pistillate spikes cylindric, much longer than wide; staminate spikes 1-8
                   10 Perigynia < 10 mm long.
                       12 Perigynium beak with 2 teeth > 0.6 mm long
                       12 Perigynium beak entire or with teeth < 0.6 mm long.
                          13 Terminal spike gynecandrous or pistillate
                            14 Perigynia papillate
                            14 Perigynia glabrous or pubescent.
                              15 Sheaths and blades both glabrous
                              15 Sheaths and/or blades pubescent
                          13 Terminal spike staminate (or rarely androgynous).
                                16 Leaf sheaths (and usually the blades as well) pubescent.
                                  17 Pistillate scales sometimes pubescent; pistillate spikes with 40-200 perigynia
                                  17 Pistillate scales glabrous; pistillate spikes with < 40 (-50) perigynia.
                                    18 Perigynia usually < 3.2 mm long, the apex rounded and beakless, or abruptly beaked
                                    18 Perigynia > 3.5 mm long, the tip tapering or abruptly beaked.
                                       19 Longer peduncles of pistillate spikes > 1 cm long; perigynia > 3× as long as wide, tapering gradually to the base
                                       19 Longer peduncles of pistillate spikes 0-1 cm long; perigynia < 3× as long as wide, abruptly contracted to a short stipe at the base.
                                         20 Perigynia distinctly 20-30-veined; beak < 0.5 mm long
                                         20 Perigynia veinless except for 2 marginal veins; beak > 0.7 mm long
                                16 Leaf sheaths and blades glabrous to scabrous.
                                           21 Achene tip with persistent, enlarged, circular style base
                                           21 Achene tip with at most a short apiculus.
                                             22 Leaf blades scabrous on the upper surface; beak of perigynium recurved
                                             22 Leaf blades glabrous on the upper surface, often with rough margins or tip; beak of perigynium straight.
                                               23 Fronts of sheaths of lower leaves ladder-fibrillose; leaves and sheaths septate-nodulose (sometimes obscurely so)
                                               23 Fronts of leaf sheaths not ladder-fibrillose, sometimes breaking into longitudinal fibers; leaves and sheaths not septate-nodulose.
                                                 24 Perigynia strongly 12-30-veined.
                                                    25 Pistillate scales with 3-7 (-10) veins
                                                    25 Pistillate scales with 1-3 veins.
                                                      26 Leaf blades, at least toward the tip, M-shaped in cross-section when young, the upper surface usually with 2 marginal veins more prominent than the midvein; staminate spikes 1-4
                                                      26 Leaf blades V-shaped in cross-section when young, the upper surface lacking 2 marginal veins more prominent than the midrib; staminate spike 1
                                                 24 Perigynia 0-12-veined.
                                                        27 Proximal pistillate spike pendulous, perigynia usually > 30 per spike; terminal staminate spikes 1-3; [exotic]
                                                        27 Proximal pistillate spike erect, perigynia < 25 per spike; terminal staminate spikes 1; [native].
                                                          28 Plants with at least some pistillate spikes basal; culms much shorter than the leaves
                                                          28 Plants with most pistillate spikes on obvious elongated stems; culms shorter than or longer than the leaves.
                                                            29 Upper leaves with blades > 2 cm long, longer than the sheaths
                                                            29 Upper leaves bladeless or with blades < 1 cm long and also shorter than the sheaths

Key to Carex, Key E: Subkey in Carex

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1 Apex of perigynium beak with 2 teeth at least (0.4-) 0.5 mm long.
  2 Perigynia with 2 distinct marginal veins, otherwise veinless or only very faintly veined; leaves not septate-nodulose
  2 Perigynia with 5+ distinct veins; at least proximal leaves septate-nodulose, rarely not.
    3 Perigynia with serrulate wing on margins; spikes usually 20+, sessile, pistillate or androgynous and similar in appearance, forming a dense, ovoid or oblong head, rarely with proximal spike separated
    3 Perigynia without wing on margins; spikes not more than 10, usually at least proximal shortly pedunculate, sometimes subsessile, distal and proximal spikes usually dissimilar in appearance, usually not crowded into a dense head.
      4 Pistillate scales obtuse to acuminate, awnless or at most with a rough apiculus.
        5 Staminate spikes usually 1-3+; perigynia 6-15 (-22)-veined, each 4-10 (-12.5) mm.
          6 Perigynia 6-14 (-15)-veined
          6 Perigynia 14-25-veined
             7 Perigynia narrowly ovate to subglobose, 2-2.5× as long as wide
             7 Perigynia elliptic to ovate, 3-4.5× as long as wide
      4 Pistillate scales, at least some, with a scabrous awn.
               8 Perigynia (9-) 10+ mm long.
                 9 Pistillate spikes cylindric, much longer than wide; staminate spikes (1-) 2-6
                 9 Pistillate spikes globose, ovoid, or cylindric, about as long as wide; staminate spikes usually 1
               8 Perigynia < 9 mm long.
                   10 Upper pistillate scales with awn > ½ as long as the body
                   10 Upper pistillate scales acute to short-awned, awn < ½ as long as the body.
                     11 Beak of perigynia with teeth 1.1-3 mm long
                     11 Beak of perigynia with teeth often < 1 mm long.
                       12 Staminate spikes 1 (-4); perigynium beak > 1.7 mm long
                       12 Staminate spikes 1-6; perigynium beak often < 1.7 mm long.
                          13 Perigynia veined only at base; widest leaves < 4 mm wide
                          13 Perigynium veined to tip of body and often into beak; widest leaves mostly > 4 mm wide.
                            14 Pistillate scales with margins serrulate distally; awn, when present, rough.
                              15 Perigynia 3.1-4.8 × 0.9-1.5 (-1.8) mm; staminate spikes 1-2
                              15 Perigynia 2.5-8 × 1.2-3.5 mm; staminate spikes usually 3-7
                            14 Pistillate scales with margins entire; awn, when present, usually smooth.
                                16 Perigynia 9-15-veined
                                16 Perigynia 14-25-veined.
                                  17 Perigynia narrowly ovate to subglobose, 2-2.5× as long as wide
                                  17 Perigynia elliptic to ovate, 3-4.5× as long as wide
1 Apex of perigynium beak entire, emarginate, or with 2 teeth < 0.5 mm long.
                                    18 Perigynia minutely papillose, at least distally (at 20× magnification).
                                       19 Some roots with yellow-brown felty covering
                                       19 Roots brown or black, without yellow-brown felty covering, rarely with white felty covering.
                                         20 Leaf blades and/or sheaths pubescent, at least at junction of blade and sheath
                                         20 Leaf blades and sheaths glabrous.
                                           21 Terminal spike gynecandrous
                                           21 Terminal spike staminate or androgynous.
                                             22 Pistillate scales obtuse to acuminate or with awn < 1 mm long; staminate scales not awned
                                             22 Lower pistillate scales with awn 1.2-3.5 mm long; staminate scales awned
                                    18 Perigynia not papillose, essentially smooth.
                                               23 Terminal spike gynecandrous.
                                                 24 Perigynia with distinct beak 0.5-4 mm long.
                                                    25 Larger spikes usually with > 50 perigynia; achenes 2-3 mm long
                                                    25 Larger spikes with < 40 perigynia; achenes 1-2 mm long
                                                 24 Perigynia beakless or with beak < 0.5 mm long.
                                                      26 Adaxial side of leaves with 2 marginal veins more prominent than midvein; young leaves M-shaped in cross section.
                                                        27 Perigynia ovoid, usually > 1.5× as long as wide; apex tapered to beak; sheaths of proximal leaves not septate-nodulose
                                                        27 Perigynia subcircular, < 1.2× as long as wide; apex rounded, abruptly beaked; sheaths of proximal leaves septate-nodulose
                                                      26 Adaxial side of leaves without 2 marginal veins more prominent than midvein; young leaves V-shaped or rounded in cross section.
                                                          28 Leaf blades and/or sheaths pubescent, at least at junction of blade and sheath
                                                          28 Leaf blades and sheaths glabrous.
                                                            29 Perigynia erect or ascending
                                                            29 Perigynia ascending, spreading at about right angles, or reflexed when mature
                                               23 Terminal spike staminate or androgynous.
                                                              30 Leaves and/or sheaths pubescent, at least at junction of blade and sheath.
                                                                 31 Larger leaves 8-23 mm wide, only the sheaths pubescent
                                                                 31 Leaves < 8 mm wide, blades and usually also the sheaths pubescent.
                                                                   32 Perigynium beak 0.5-3 mm long, often > 1 mm long, about 1/2 the length of the body; proximal pistillate scales awned
                                                                   32 Perigynium beak absent or not more than 0.5 (-0.7) mm long, not > 1/4 the length of the body; proximal pistillate scales acute, acuminate or cuspidate.
                                                              30 Leaves and sheaths usually glabrous, rarely papillose.
                                                                     33 Style persistent on achene in fruit; larger leaves and sheaths usually at least sparsely septate-nodulose, rarely not.
                                                                       34 Perigynia (9-) 10+ mm long; staminate spike usually 1
                                                                       34 Perigynia < 10 mm long; staminate spikes 1-5 (-7).
                                                                         35 Pistillate scales with margins serrulate distally, apex usually rough-awned.
                                                                           36 Distal pistillate scales with apex acute to short-awned, awn < 1/2 as long as the body
                                                                           36 Distal pistillate scales with apex long-awned, awn > 1/2 as long as the body
                                                                         35 Pistillate scales with margins entire, apex awnless or with short, smooth awn.
                                                                              37 Perigynia not inflated, thick walled, brownish, dull
                                                                              37 Perigynia slightly to strongly inflated, thin walled, yellowish to purplish, shiny
                                                                     33 Style deciduous; larger leaves and sheaths sometimes septate-nodulose, more often not.
                                                                                38 Leaf blades, at least widest, M-shaped in cross section when young, adaxial surface with 2 marginal veins more prominent than midvein.
                                                                                  39 Widest leaf blades 8-23 mm wide, septate-nodulose
                                                                                  39 Widest leaf blades < 6 mm wide, not septate-nodulose.
                                                                                    40 Pistillate scales awned, longest awn > 0.5 mm long
                                                                                    40 Pistillate scales obtuse to acuminate or short-awned, awn < 0.2 mm long
                                                                                38 Leaf blades V-shaped in cross section when young, adaxial surface without 2 marginal veins more prominent than midvein.
                                                                                      41 Proximal perigynia in each spike spreading at right angles or reflexed at maturity; leaf blades and sheaths sparsely septate-nodulose
                                                                                      41 Proximal perigynia in each spike ascending or spreading-ascending; leaf blades and sheaths not septate-nodulose.
                                                                                        42 Plant base brown or blackish, without trace of red or purple
                                                                                        42 Plant base red or purple tinged, sometimes only sparsely so.
                                                                                           43 Perigynia distinctly veined on faces; pistillate scales brown or black
                                                                                           43 Perigynia veinless or with veins only proximally; pistillate scales white-hyaline or red-brown

Key to Carex, Key F: Subkey in Carex

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1 Apex of perigynium beak terminated by 2 teeth, mostly > 0.5 mm long.
  2 Perigynia > 4× as long as wide (8-15 × 1-3 mm).
    3 Apical teeth of perigynium beak erect; achenes oblong-obovoid or obovoid; at least proximal pistillate scales with 3-5 (-7)-veined center
    3 Apical teeth of perigynium beak reflexed; achenes elongate; pistillate scales with 1-veined center
  2 Perigynia < 4× as long as wide.
      4 Perigynia > (9-) 10 mm long.
        5 Sheaths, at least the proximal sheath fronts, densely tomentose at mouth; apical teeth of perigynium beak often > 1 mm long
        5 Sheaths glabrous; apical teeth of perigynium beak not more than 1 mm.
          6 Perigynia 7-11-, 5-12-, or 12-25-veined
          6 Perigynia 12-34-veined.
             7 Basal and proximal leaf sheaths yellowish to brown, without trace of red or purple
      4 Perigynia < 10 mm long.
               8 At least proximal pistillate scales with long, rough awn.
                 9 Perigynia with 2 strong marginal veins, otherwise veinless or veined only proximally; leaves not septate-nodulose.
                 9 Perigynia with 5+ strong veins extending length of bodies; leaves septate-nodulose.
                   10 Perigynium beak with apical teeth (0.4-) 0.6-3 mm long, often > 1 mm long
                   10 Perigynium beak with apical teeth < 1 mm long.
                     11 Perigynium body obovoid, widest distally; proximal bract > 3× as long as the inflorescence
                     11 Perigynium body ovoid or lanceoloid or ellipsoid, widest at middle or proximally; proximal bract usually < 2× as long as the inflorescence.
                       12 Perigynium beak 0.9-1.7 mm long; mature perigynia dull
                       12 Perigynium beak 0.2-6 mm long; mature perigynia somewhat glossy
               8 All pistillate scales obtuse to acuminate or cuspidate.
                          13 Culms with some red or purple at base.
                            14 All perigynia erect or ascending; leaves not septate-nodulose
                            14 At least proximal perigynia in each spike spreading or reflexed; leaves sparsely septate-nodulose
                          13 Culms brown or black at base, without trace of red or purple.
                              15 Pistillate scales with 5-7-veined center
                              15 Pistillate scales with 1-3-veined center.
                                16 Leaves not septate-nodulose
                                16 Leaves at least sparingly septate-nodulose
1 Apex of perigynium beak entire, emarginate, or with teeth mostly < 0.5 mm long.
                                  17 Leaf blades variously hairy.
                                    18 Plant brown or black at base
                                    18 Plant with at least some red or purple at base
                                  17 Leaf blades glabrous.
                                       19 Bracts without blades.
                                         20 Leaves < 1 mm wide
                                         20 Leaves much wider, often over 10 mm wide
                                       19 Bracts, at least the proximal, with distinct blade.
                                           21 Young leaves V-shaped or rounded in cross section, adaxial surface without 2 marginal veins more prominent than midvein or other veins.
                                             22 Perigynium beak with 2 distinct terminal teeth, usually > 0.2 mm long.
                                               23 At least proximal pistillate scales awned, awn at least 1/2 as long as body; leaves conspicuously septate-nodulose.
                                                 24 Base of culm strongly red or purple; leaves 2-4 mm wide
                                                 24 Base of culm brown, without or with only trace of red or purple; leaves 4-15 mm wide.
                                                    25 Distal pistillate scales acute, acuminate, or short-awned, awn less than 1/2 length of body
                                                    25 Distal pistillate scales with awn at least about as long as body
                                               23 Pistillate scales obtuse to acuminate, sometimes very shortly awned; leaves not or only weakly septate-nodulose.
                                                      26 Plants with long-creeping rhizomes; leaves usually not septate-nodulose
                                                      26 Plants with short-ascending rhizomes; leaves at least sparingly septate-nodulose.
                                                        27 Proximal perigynia in each spike ascending or spreading-ascending
                                                        27 Proximal perigynia in each spike spreading or reflexed
                                             22 Perigynium beak entire, emarginate, or with 2 apical teeth < 0.2 mm long.
                                                          28 Perigynia rounded at base, sides proximally distinctly convex.
                                                            29 Perigynia with veins slightly prominent
                                                            29 Perigynia with veins slightly impressed
                                                          28 Perigynia tapering at base, sides straight or only slightly convex proximally.
                                                              30 Perigynia rounded at apex, beakless or with beak < 0.3 mm long.
                                                                 31 Widest leaf blades < 5 mm wide; plants usually not cespitose
                                                                 31 Widest leaf blades usually > 5 mm wide; plants usually cespitose
                                                              30 Perigynia tapering to beak at least > (0.3-) 0.5 mm long.
                                                                   32 Proximal perigynia in each spike spreading at right angles or reflexed at maturity; leaves and sheaths sparsely septate- nodulose
                                                                   32 Proximal perigynia in each spike ascending or spreading-ascending; leaves and sheaths not septate-nodulose.
                                                                     33 Plants usually colonial; perigynia and leaves often papillose
                                                                     33 Plants cespitose; perigynia and leaves not papillose
                                           21 Leaf blades M-shaped in cross section when young, adaxial surface with 2 marginal veins more prominent than midvein and other marginal veins, sometimes apparent only on proximal leaves and on proximal part of blade.
                                                                       34 Perigynium beakless or with beak < 0.5 mm long, entire or with 2 apical teeth < 0.1 mm long.
                                                                         35 Widest leaf blades (usually basal) > 10 mm wide.
                                                                           36 Distal pistillate spikes strongly pendulous, perigynia > 100 per spike; [exotic]
                                                                           36 Distal pistillate spikes erect, perigynia < 30 per spike; [native].
                                                                              37 Perigynia trigonous with rounded angles in cross section
                                                                              37 Perigynia sharply trigonous in cross section
                                                                         35 Widest leaf blades < 10 mm wide.
                                                                                38 Perigynia not prominently veined, veins somewhat impressed
                                                                                38 Perigynia at least slightly prominently veined or veinless except for 2 marginal veins.
                                                                                  39 Perigynia rounded at base, sides proximally convex
                                                                                  39 Perigynia tapering at base, sides proximally straight, concave or slightly convex.
                                                                                    40 Perigynia transversely wrinkled; leaf sheaths sparsely septate-nodulose
                                                                                    40 Perigynia not transversely wrinkled; leaf sheaths not septate-nodulose.
                                                                                      41 Perigynia sharply trigonous in cross section
                                                                                      41 Perigynia terete or with rounded angles in cross section.
                                                                                        42 Perigynia with 2 marginal veins and not more than 10 veins on faces
                                                                                        42 Perigynia with more than 12 veins.
                                                                                           43 Plants usually colonial, not cespitose; perigynia papillose at least faintly.
                                                                                           43 Plants usually cespitose; perigynia not papillose.
                                                                       34 Perigynium with distinct beak > 0.5 mm, usually with apical teeth > 0.1 mm long.
                                                                                             44 Perigynia with 2 distinct marginal veins, otherwise veinless or with very weak veins proximally.
                                                                                               45 Perigynium beak entire, emarginate, or with apical teeth < 0.1 mm long
                                                                                               45 Perigynium beak with apical teeth 0.2-1 mm.
                                                                                                 46 Perigynium beak usually < 1 mm long.
                                                                                                 46 Perigynium beak sometimes > 2 mm long
                                                                                             44 Perigynia with more than 2 veins extending most of length of bodies.
                                                                                                   47 Pistillate scales with narrow, indistinct bodies, scarcely enlarged at bases
                                                                                                   47 Pistillate scales with wide, flat bodies, sometimes terminating in awns.
                                                                                                     48 Perigynium beak entire or emarginate.
                                                                                                        49 Perigynium with not more than 5 veins extending length of body on abaxial face, veinless or weakly veined on adaxial face
                                                                                                        49 Perigynium with > 8 equally prominent veins on both faces.
                                                                                                          50 Perigynia bluntly angled in cross section
                                                                                                          50 Perigynia sharply angled in cross section
                                                                                                     48 Perigynium beak with 2 distinct teeth at apex, usually > 0.2 mm long.
                                                                                                            51 Pistillate spikes, at least the proximal, lax, proximal and middle perigynia separated by internodes at least 1/4 their length; leaves and sheaths not septate-nodulose
                                                                                                            51 Pistillate spikes dense, proximal and middle perigynia separated by internodes less than 1/10 their length; proximal leaves and sheaths sparingly septate-nodulose.
                                                                                                              52 Pistillate scales, at least proximal, awned, awn at least 1/4 of scale body length.
                                                                                                                53 Distal pistillate scales acuminate or with awn less than 1/2 body length; staminate spikes usually 2+
                                                                                                                53 Distal pistillate scales awned, awn usually more than 1/2 body length; staminate spikes 1, sometimes with 1 much smaller spike laterally
                                                                                                              52 Pistillate scales obtuse to acute or apiculate, apiculus not more than 1/10 of body length.
                                                                                                                  54 Culms purple-red at base; achenes with style persistent
                                                                                                                  54 Culms brown at base, without trace of red or purple; achenes with style deciduous