Carex polyantha

Rhizome long; shoots densely tufted. Culms erect, trigonous, smooth below, scabrous above, 20–80 cm long, c. 2.5 mm diam. Leaves about as long as culms, 4–9 mm wide; sheath orange-brown; ligule acute to retuse. Inflorescence erect, 10–55 cm long, with 5–8 spikes solitary at nodes; lowest involucral bracts exceeding inflorescence. Spikes sessile to subsessile, distant, erect to spreading at maturity, 2–17 cm long, upper 1–5 spikes entirely male or occasionally with female flowers below; lower spikes female or with male flowers above; glumes very narrow, acute to acuminate, dark red-brown with paler midrib; female glumes 2–3.5 mm long; utricles 2–3 mm long, c. 1.5 mm diam., obovoid to ovoid, nerveless or faintly nerved, glabrous, occasionally minutely papillose at apex, rarely scattered-hispid at apex, pale brown but densely red-dotted; beak short but distinct, 0.2–0.3 mm long, with apex truncate or notched; style 2 (rarely 3)-fid. Nut obovoid, lenticular, pale yellow. Flowers spring–summer.