Culms 17-78 cm. Leaf blades 2-4 mm wide. Inflorescences: peduncle of proximal spike 1 cm or longer; proximal bract 3-4 mm wide. Spikes: proximal 3-7 spikes pistillate, 1.5-3.6 cm × 4-6 mm; terminal spike staminate. Pistillate scales red-brown or black. Perigynia 5-7-veined on each face, ovoid, 2.5-3.5 × 1.3-1.6 mm; stipe 0.4-0.7 mm; beak red-brown, 0.2-0.5 mm.

Fruiting Aug. Lakeshores, wet meadows; 0-100 m; B.C.; Alaska, Calif., Oreg., Wash.

Carex lenticularis var. limnophila occurs only along the Pacific coast and is distinguished from the sympatric var. lipocarpa by larger perigynia, wider pistillate spikes, more compact inflorescence, and pistillate scales that are as long as the perigynia.