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Key to Carex, [26ff] Section 23b Hymenochlaenae: section Hymenochlaenae (the "Gracillimae" group)
1 Lowest pistillate bract auriculate but not sheathing; terminal spike normally staminate (rarely with a few perigynia terminally); leaf blades 1-2 mm wide; basal sheaths purplish or red; [of cliffs and rock outcrops at moderate to high elevations in the Mountains]
1 Lowest pistillate bract sheathing (the sheath short in C. prasina); terminal spike normally gynecandrous, rarely merely staminate (often merely staminate in C. prasina); leaf blades 1.5-7 mm wide; basal sheaths purplish or red (brownish or greenish in C. prasina); [of various habitats, only rarely as above].
..2 Perigynia strongly trigonous, the lateral ribs at the angles, broadest below the middle; basal sheaths brownish or greenish; leaf sheaths glabrous on the hyaline ventral portion
..2 Perigynia terete to obscurely trigonous, the lateral ribs not at the angles, broadest near the middle; basal sheaths purplish or red; leaf sheaths pubescent on the hyaline ventral portion (glabrous in C. gracillima).
....3 Perigynia densely white-hirsute; achenes brown with dark red spots