Synopsis of the morphology and taxonomy of Carex section Glaucescentes in North America

Field studies were used to characterize habitat and evaluate morphological characters of Carex glaucescens, C. joorii and C. verrucosa. Morphometric analysis of herbarium specimens along with field studies, Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM), pollen viability and phenology show C. glaucescens, C. joorii and C. verrucosa to be taxonomically distinguishable at the species level. The taxonomy of Carex section Glaucescentes is presented in an artificial dichotomous key to the taxa and in species descriptions.