Carex à bec court

Carex saxilittoralis Robertson, Rhodora 82: 370. 1980; C. oederi Retzius var. subglosa Fernald, not Storch 1857, not Richter 1890

Culms 2–4.5 cm. Leaves of flowering stems thickened, recurved, shorter to equaling culms, to 3 cm × 1.6–3.5 mm ligules of distal cauline leaves usually obsolete. Inflorescences: peduncles of terminal staminate spikes 0.8–4 mm; proximal pistillate spikes 1–3, 4–5.5 mm wide; terminal staminate spikes 5.1–6.1 × 1.6–2.1 mm. Perigynia 2.3–2.8 × 1.3–1.5 mm; beak forming an angle of 5–28° with body. Achenes 1.2–1.4 × 0.9–1 mm.

Fruiting Jul–Aug. Moist to wet, exposed shores and limestone barrens, frequently subjected to fog and salt-spray, on lime-rich soils; 0–50 m; Nfld. and Labr., N.S.