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Key to Carex, [26m] Section 9 Glareosae: section Glareosae (Heleonastes)
1 Spikes (1-) 2 (-3); perigynia 1-5 per spike, 2.5-4 mm long.
..2 Leaves 0.3-0.8 mm wide, filiform-involute; ligules 0.3-0.8 (-1.2) mm long; inflorescences 14-32 mm long; spikes 2-3 per inflorescence; terminal spike with 1-3 perigynia per spike; [south to PA and s. NJ]
..2 Leaves 0.8-1.9 mm wide, flat or thinly M-shaped; ligules 0.5-1.9 mm long; inflorescences (14-) 23-55 mm long; spikes (2-) 3-4 per inflorescence; terminal spike with (1-) 2-6 perigynia per spike; [south to w. NC]
1 Spikes 4-15; perigynia 5-30 per spike; 1.7-2.5 mm long.
....3 Perigynia broadest near the base of the body, with a conspicuous beak 0.7-1.1 mm long; spikes mostly 7-15, usually ± overlapping or crowded into an ovoid narrowly pyramidal head 2-4.5 cm long
....3 Perigynia broadest at or near the middle of the body; beak essentially absent or less than 0.6 mm long; spikes 2-8 (-10), at least the lower spikes well separated or, if crowded, the inflorescence only 0.6–2 cm long.
......4 Perigynia 5-10 (-15) per spike; perigynium without ventral nerves (or the nerves very obscure); spike at maturity somewhat bristly appearing in silhouette because of the perigynium beaks