Culms 15-60 cm. Leaf blades 2-3.5 mm wide. Inflorescences: peduncle of proximal spike 1 cm; proximal bract red-brown at base, 1-3 mm wide. Spikes: proximal 3-5 spikes pistillate, 1.5-3.6 cm × 3-4 mm; terminal spike staminate. Pistillate scales red-brown or black. Perigynia with purple-brown spots on apical 1/2, 1-3 veins abaxially, ellipsoid or ovoid, 1.8-2.5 × 1.1-1.5 mm; stipe 0.2 mm; beak red-brown, 0.2-0.5 mm. 2n = 92.

Fruiting Aug. Seasonally flooded river and lakeshores; 1200-3000 m; Calif., Idaho, Oreg., Wash.

Primarily a taxon of the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Mountains, Carex lenticularis var. impressa tends to have smaller perigynia with fewer veins and more red-brown pigmentation than does the more widespread var. lipocarpa.