Scirpus coarctatus Elliott, Sketch Bot. S. Carolina 1: 83. 1816; Bulbostylis capillaris (Linnaeus) C. B. Clarke var. coarctata (Elliott) J. F. Macbride; B. coarctata (Elliott) Fernald; Fimbristylis capillaris (Linnaeus) A. Gray var. coarctata (Elliott) Britton; F. carteri (Britton) Alain; Isolepis coarctata (Elliott) Torrey; Stenophyllus capillaris [var.] coarctata (Elliott) H. Pfeiffer; S. carteri Britton; Stenophyllus coarctatus (Elliott) Britton

Herbs, perennial (rarely annual), densely cespitose. Culms 15–40 cm. Leaves to 1/2 scape length; sheaths abaxially glabrous or ribs hirtellous; blades filiform 0.05 mm wide, glabrous or with margins and abaxial ribs hirtellous. Inflorescences in compound anthelae, open or dense; scapes narrowly linear, glabrous, less often hirtellous; longest involucral bract mostly exceeding inflorescence. Spikelets 10+, 3–6 mm; fertile scales red-brown to pale brown, ovate, acute, glabrous or puberulent, midrib excurrent forming short mucro. Flowers: stamens 2–3; anthers 1 mm. Achenes 1 mm. 2n = 60.

Fruiting summer–fall. Mostly dry sandy places, sandhills, sandy waste areas, dry oak pine woodlands; 0–200 m; Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va.; West Indies (Cuba).

When Bulbostylis ciliatifolia var. coarctata and var. ciliatifolia are found together, the former is invariably found in higher, drier habitat.