Plants cespitose; rhizomes inconspicuous. Culms erect, (9.2-) 19.5-35(-38) cm. Leaves: sheaths and bases from previous year´s leaves absent; blades narrowly V-shaped in cross section, to 23 cm × 1.8 mm, widest leaves of pistillate culm less than 1.5 mm wide. Scales ovate, 2.4 × 1.2 mm. Perigynia ovate, 1.5-2.6 × 1-1.2 mm, less than or equal to 2.5 times long as wide, body tightly enveloping achene for entire length and width. Achenes 1-1.5 × 0.6-0.9 mm.

Fruiting early Jun-Sep. Prairie pavement barrens; 200 m; Ont.; Mich.

Carex scirpoidea subsp. convoluta is the most geographically restricted of the subspecies and is distinguished by narrowly V-shaped leaves, especially of the flowering shoot, a strongly cespitose habit, and conspicuously more flowering shoots per plant than other subspecies.