C. ustulata Wahlenb., Kungl. Svenska Vetenskapsakad. Handl. N.S. 24: 156. 1803. C. ustulata Wahlenb. var. minor Boott, Ill. Gen. Carex 1: 71. 1858. C. atrofusca subsp. minor (Boott) Koyama, in H. Ohashi, Fl. East. Himalaya, 3rd Report: 122. 1978. C. oxyleuca V. Krecz., in Schiscgk., Fl. URSS 3: 284. 1935. C. hypsobates Nelmes in Kew Bull. 1940: 272. 1940; Mackenzie, N. Am. Caric.: Pl. 364. 1940; Schkuhr, l.c. 1: tab. Y, fig. 82. 1801.

Perennial, 10-25 cm. Rhizome short, emitting short stolons. Stem obtusely to acutely trigonous, papillose but smooth. Leaves at most 1/4 of stem length; sheaths 10-15 mm, greyish green; ligule c. 0.3 mm, arch high; blades 20-50 x 2.5-5 mm, flat, grey-green, both sides densely papillose, margins towards apex slightly scabrous. Inflorescence of 1 male and 2-4 female spikes, occasionally gynecandrous. Bracts up to 30 mm, narrow, with sheath up to 15 mm. Male spikes 5-10 mm, ellipsoid, light- to dark-brown; male glumes c. 3.5 mm, obtuse with scarious margins. Female spikes 7-15 x 4-7 mm, ovoid to ellipsoid, black-brown, all pedunculate, lowest peduncle up to 30 mm; female glumes c. 3 x 1.5 mm, ovate, acuminate, blackish brown, apical margin scarious; utricles 3-4 x 1.5-2 mm, wide ovoid or ellipsoid, flat, blackish brown, papillose, beak 0.2-0.5 mm, cylindrical, papillose, sometimes scabrid, bidentate, ostiole margin scarious. Stigmas 3. Nut c. 2 x 1 mm, ellipsoid, trigonous, yellow.

Fl. Per.: July–August.

Type: Austria, ”Habitat in Alpibus Vochein, Mt. Terglau [Triglav], Kerma [valley].”.

In alpine meadows, 3670-5250 m; Distribution: Arctic circum-polar, in mountains of Europe and Central Asia (Dshungarskiy Alatau, Tian Shan, Pamir-Alai, NE Afghanistan, N Pakistan and Himalayas).