Leaf blades bright green, much longer than culms, herbaceous, scabrous to papillose adaxially. Perigynia pubescent on beak and body. Fruiting mid Apr-late Jun. Open, dry, acidic, sandy and rocky meadows, roadsides, dunes, ridges, heathlands, savannas, pine, oak, and poplar woodland edges; 50-1000 m; Man., N.S., Ont., Que., Sask.; Conn., Ga., Ill., Ind., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., S.C., Vt., W.Va., Wis. Carex tonsa var. rugosperma has long been known as C. rugosperma but C. tonsa has priority. The two varieties of C. tonsa may occur together; intermediates are found occasionally. Plants with virtually glabrous perigynia may have long, scabrous leaves. Plants with a pubescent perigynia apparently never have coriaceous, short, and nearly smooth leaves.