Plants usually not cespitose, rhizomatous. Culms brown at base. Leaves: basal sheaths fibrous; sheath fronts membranous; blades V-shaped in cross section when young, widest leaves 4–8 mm wide, glabrous. Inflorescences paniculate, with 20+ spikes, ovoid or oblong capitate, occasionally with proximal 1–2 spikes separated, sessile; proximal bracts leaflike or threadlike, sheathless; spikes staminate, pistillate, or androgynous, sessile, without prophylls. Proximal pistillate scales with apex awned. Perigynia ascending or at length spreading, veined on both faces, short-stipitate, narrowly ovate, thickly plano-convex in cross section, base tapering or rounded, with spongy tissue, margins serrulate-winged, apex tapering to beak, glabrous; beak with abaxial suture, margins entire, apex bidentate. Stigmas 3. Achenes rounded-trigonous, smaller than bodies of perigynia; style deciduous.

Distribution

North America, e Asia.

Discussion

Species 2 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Carex kobomugi, Carex macrocephala

Key

1	Culms bluntly angled, smooth or, sometimes, weakly serrulate on 1 angle immediately proximal to inflorescences; proximal spikes appressed to ascending; proximal pistillate scales with awn to 6–12 mm; anthers 4–6.5 mm.	Carex kobomugi
1	Culms sharply angled, at least 1 angle serrulate immediately proximal to inflorescences; proximal spikes ascending-spreading to spreading; proximal pistillate scales with awn to 1.2–4 mm; anthers 2.5–5 mm.	Carex macrocephala