Carex chlorantha

Rhizome tough, long, c. 1.3–3 mm diam.; shoots loosely tufted. Culms erect, trigonous, smooth below, scabrous above, (10–)20–35(–60) cm long, to 1 mm diam. Leaves usually shorter than culms, 0.7–2.2 mm wide; sheath pale brown; ligule rounded or obtuse. Inflorescence narrow, erect, 1–2.5 cm long, with 4–12 spikes solitary at nodes; lowest involucral bract usually shorter than inflorescence or sometimes as long as inflorescence. Spikes sessile, contiguous, appressed or slightly spreading at maturity, to 0.5 cm long; uppermost spike with male flowers above female flowers; lower spikes female or with male flowers above; glumes acute, stramineous to red-brown, often with broad whitish or hyaline margins; female glumes 3.3–4 mm long; utricles 3.0–4.0 mm long, 1.0–1.2 mm diam., narrow ovoid to ovoid, nerveless or with few faint nerves, shortly hispid on margins, green to red-brown; beak c. 1 mm long, with apex split abaxially or bifid; style 2-fid. Nut ovoid, lenticular, yellow-brown. Flowers spring–summer.