General:
Perennial, loosely or densely tufted herb from short rhizomes; stems triangular, with smooth edges, slightly rough below the inflorescence, 15-100 cm tall, exceeding the leaves.

Leaves:
Sheaths tight, short; blades flat, arising from the lower part of the stem, 2-6 mm wide, the lower ones slightly reduced.

Flowers:
The terminal spike or top 2 with male flowers, the lower 2 to 3 with female flowers and occasionally with a few male flowers at the top, unstalked or with short stalks, 1.5-4 cm long, erect; lowermost bract subtending the spikes leaflike, sheathless with brown ear-shaped lobes, usually shorter than or equalling the inflorescence, the upper ones reduced.

Fruits:
Perigynia egg- to globe-shaped, 2.5-2.8 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide, green, inflated, nerveless, the beaks minute, up to 0.3 mm long; female scales egg-shaped, longer and narrower than the perigynia, purplish-brown, with lighter centres; stigmas 2; achenes lens-shaped, 1.3-1.7 mm long.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Illustration Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Flower Colour:
Brown

Blooming Period:
Early Spring

Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present from Spring to Summer

Source:  The USDA

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Carex accedens T. Holm
Carex acutina var. tenuior L.H. Bailey
Carex stylosa var. virens L.H. Bailey
Carex turgidula L.H. Bailey