Carex pâle

Culms 20–80 cm, pilose. Leaves: sheaths pilose; ligules longer than wide; blades 2–3 mm wide, pilose abaxially. Inflorescences: lateral spikes approximate or proximal distant, 5–20 × 4.5–7 mm; terminal spike staminate, 5–30 × 1–2.5 mm. Pistillate scales ovate, 2.2–3.2 × 1.1–1.5 mm, 2 times as long as wide, apex of proximal cuspidate, apex of distal acute or acuminate, as long as perigynia. Staminate scales oblong-obovate, 2.7–4.2 mm, apex acute or mucronate. Anthers 1.4–2.8 mm. Perigynia ascending or somewhat spreading, weakly 14–20-veined, elliptic-oblong, 2.3–3 × 1.1–1.5 mm, glabrous; beak absent. Achenes 1.8–2 × 1–1.2 mm. 2n = 70.

Fruiting summer. Meadows, open slopes; 0–500 m; St. Pierre and Miquelon; N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.S., Ont., Que.; Conn., Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., N.H., N.J., N.Y., Ohio, Pa., R.I., Vt.; Eurasia; introduced New Zealand.