Carex L.

Bristle absent from female flower or short and not exserted Carex

Spikes sessile or nearly so, erect to ascending in the fruiting stage. Utricle may be corky, beak 1 mm or less long

Spikes with long pedicel, usually pendulous in the fruiting stage. Utricle never corky but with a prominent beak 2 mm long or longer