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Key to Carex, [26b] Section 2 Heleoglochin: section Heleoglochin (Paniculatae)

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1 Inflorescence 7-15 cm long, the basal 3-9 branches well-separated from one another; perigynia broadly obovoid, 1.3-1.5× as long as wide; sheaths concave at the mouth; leaves 3-8 mm wide; [of swamps of the Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont]
1 Inflorescence 2-8 cm long, the basal 1-5 branches indistinct to slightly separated; perigynia ovoid to lance-ovoid, ca. 2× as long as wide; sheaths prolonged beyond the blade; leaves 1-3 mm wide; [of Mountain wetlands in VA (and TN?) and northward].
  2 Inner band of leaf sheath whitish (and red-dotted); basal branches of inflorescence overlapping; perigynia not concealed by the scales
  2 Inner band of leaf sheath strongly copper-colored (and also red-dotted); basal branches of inflorescence often weakly separated; perigynia nearly or completely concealed by the scales