Plants without conspicuous rhizomes. Culms 10-85 cm, 1.5-2.5 mm wide basally, 0.6-0.8 mm wide distally. Leaves: sheaths tight, green, fronts hyaline, with some cross veins; ligules to 3.5 mm, usually wider than long; widest leaf blades 2-4mm wide. Inflorescences with 4-7 spikes, 1-2.5(-3) cm × 7-10 mm; proximal internodes 5-10 mm, as long as proximal spikes; proximal bracts to 2.5 cm; spikes with 5-10 spreading or ascending perigynia. Pistillate scales brown with green, 3-veined center, ovate, 2.1-4.5 × 1.5-2.2 mm, body as long as perigynium, apex acute or short-awned. Anthers 1-3 mm. Perigynia pale green becoming dark brown and glossy, veinless or to 7-veined abaxially, 3-4(-4.5) × 1.8-2.5 mm, margins serrulate distally; beak 0.5-1.5 mm, apical teeth 0.2-0.5 mm. Achenes circular to elliptic-circular, 1.9-2.4 × 1.5-2 mm.

Fruiting late spring-early summer. Fields, pastures, lawns, scrub; 10-200 m; introduced; N.B., Ont.; Mich., Pa.; Europe; w Asia.

See comments under 33. Carex divulsa.

The name Carex muricata has sometimes been misapplied to C. echinata (sect. Stellulatae).