Plants cespitose. Culms straight or arcuate, 2-85 cm. Leaves of flowering stems shorter than to exceeding culms, to 20 cm × 0.8-5.4 mm; ligules on distal cauline leaves usually obsolete (except in 414.b Carex viridula subsp. brachyrrhyncha). Inflorescences: peduncles of terminal staminate spikes 0-28 mm; bracts to 18 cm × 0.6-3.4 mm; inner band of sheaths concave or truncate. Spikes: proximal pistillate spikes 1-8, contiguous or proximal distant, sessile or short-pedunculate, globose to short-cylindric, 4-17.5 × 3-11 mm; terminal staminate spike sessile or pedunculate, 5-25 × 1-3.6 mm. Scales: pistillate scales pale brown to reddish brown, 1.4-3.2 × 0.8-1.7 mm, margins pale, narrow, hyaline; staminate scales reddish brown, lanceolate to ovate, 2.3-5.2 × 0.7-2 mm, margins narrowly pale hyaline, apex obtuse to acuminate. Anthers 0.9-3.1 mm. Perigynia spreading, yellow to dark olive, 1.8-4.2 × 0.8-2 mm, apex gradually or abruptly narrowed; beak straight or reflexed less than 20°, 0.3-2.1 mm, scabrous or smooth. Achenes 1-1.8 × 0.7-1.4 mm.