Plants cespitose, long-rhizomatous. Culms brown at base. Leaves: basal sheaths not fibrous; sheath fronts membranous; blades V-shaped in cross section when young, threadlike, not more than 1 mm wide, glabrous. Inflorescences racemose, with 3–5 spikes; bracts bladeless, sheathing; lateral spikes pistillate, pedunculate, prophyllate; terminal spikes staminate. Proximal pistillate scales with apex subacute to subobtuse. Perigynia erect, weakly veined on faces, with 2 strong marginal veins, ellipsoid-ovoid, trigonous, base tapering, apex tapering to abrupt beak, glabrous; beak 0.2–0.7 mm, orifice subentire. Stigmas 3. Achenes trigonous, almost as large as bodies of perigynia; style deciduous.

Distribution

Cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Discussion

Species 4 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Carex eburnea, Carex mckittrickensis

Key

1	Pistillate scales 1–2 mm; perigynia 1.5–2.2 mm; beak 0.2–0.4(–0.5) mm.	Carex eburnea
1	Pistillate scales 2.1–3.5 mm; perigynia 2.2–2.9 mm; beak 0.5–0.7 mm.	Carex mckittrickensis