Carex hirsute

Carex hirsuta Willdenow, Sp. Pl. 4(1): 252. 1805, not Suter 1802; C. complanata Torrey & Hooker var. hirsuta (L. H. Bailey) Gleason

Culms 20–90 cm, pilose. Leaves: ligules shorter than wide; blades 1.5–4 mm wide, pilose on both surfaces. Inflorescences: lateral spikes 8–18 × 3–5.5 mm, usually crowded; terminal spike gynecandrous, at least 1/2 of flowers pistillate, 10–20(–25) mm. Pistillate scales ovate, 1.8–2.5 × 0.7–1.3 mm, apex obtuse, sometimes mucronate, shorter than perigynia. Staminate scales ovate to lanceolate, 2.1–5.2 mm, apex acuminate. Anthers 1.3–2.2 mm. Perigynia ascending, weakly 9–18-veined, obovate-circular, ± trigonous in cross section, 2–3 × 1.1–1.6 mm, not papillose, glabrous; beak absent. Achenes 1.6–2.1(–2.6) × 0.8–1.3 mm. 2n = 52.

Fruiting late spring–early summer. Meadows, dry to mesic woods, neutral to basic soils; 100–500 m; Ont., Que.; Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., D.C., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Vt., Va., W.Va.