Herbs, annual or perennial. Culms weak, often arching, basally culmlike, weakly 4(-5)-angled, 10-30 cm × 0.2-0.4 mm, glabrous. Leaves 1-4, 3-25 cm × 1-1.5 mm. Inflorescences: rays absent, often proliferous; bracts 2-4, longest erect, looking like continuation of culm, V-shaped, 3-6 cm × 1-3 mm. Spikelets 1-3(-6), narrowly ellipsoid, weakly compressed, 5-10 × 2 mm; floral scales 8-16, laterally whitish or dull stramineous, medially green, weakly 3-4-ribbed, broadly ovate, 2.5 × 2 mm, apex acute to mucronate, mucro slightly excurved, 0.2-0.3 mm. Flowers: stamens 3; styles 0.8 mm; stigmas 1-1.3 mm. Achenes brown, stipitate, obovoid, abaxial angle more prominent than adaxial ones, 0.7 × 0.7 mm, apex emarginate, surfaces glabrous.

Fruiting summer-early fall. Disturbed, moist areas; 0-100 m; introduced; Calif.; Australia.

Carex gracilis comprises diminutive plants with a delicate, arching habit and distinctive knoblike angles to the achenes.