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Key to Carex, Key D: Subkey in Carex

Cyperaceae

Carex

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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 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.
      4 Bracts of the lowermost non-basal spike with blade > 3 mm long (and often much longer).
          6 Achene tip with at most a short apiculus.
             7 Leaves usually glabrous, to scabrous on the veins.
               8 Bases of plants distinctly red or purple.
(c) Ward, Scott G - CC-BY
  2 Bracts of the lowermost non-basal spike sheathless or with sheath < 4 mm long.
(c) Smith, Jake - CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG
                          13 Terminal spike gynecandrous or pistillate
(c) Ward, Scott G
(c) Goldman, Douglas - CC-BY-SA
                          13 Terminal spike staminate (or rarely androgynous).
                                    18 Perigynia > 3.5 mm long, the tip tapering or abruptly beaked.
                                                      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