Plants without conspicuous rhizomes. Culms 10-30 cm, 0.5-1 mm wide basally, 0.4-0.5 mm wide distally. Leaves: sheaths tight, green, fronts hyaline; ligules less than 2 mm, wider than long; widest leaf blades 1-1.7 mm wide. Inflorescences with 3-8 spikes, 0.6-3 cm × 5-6 mm; proximal internodes 1-2 times as long as proximal spikes; proximal bracts to 1(-3) cm; spikes with 3-10 spreading or reflexed perigynia. Pistillate scales hyaline or pale brown with green midvein, ovate, 1.8-2.4 × 0.8-1.3 mm, body 2/3 to almost length of perigynia, apex acute, acuminate or short-awned. Anthers 1 mm. Perigynia green to pale yellow, faces not veined, 2.6-3.4 × 1-1.3 mm, base of body spongy, thickened, longitudinally striate adaxially, spongy region 0.7-1.1 mm, margins entire, usually serrulate distally; beak 0.7-1.1 mm, apical teeth 0.1-0.3 mm. Stigmas straight or slightly twisted, 0.05 mm wide. Achenes ovate, 1.3-1.5 × 1-1.1 mm.

Fruiting spring. Dry to wet-mesic open forests and fields, often rocky or sandy substrates; 50-300 m; Ala., Ark., Calif., Fla., Ga., Kans., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va.

Carex texensis is introduced into California, New Jersey, New York and Ohio. Due to confusion with C. retroflexa, C. texensis is probably under-recorded.