Carex pallescens L.

Tufted, slender, bright green, 30–65 cm high; rhizomes short. Stems sharply 3-angled, scabrid on angles below inflorescence. Leaves 2–4 mm wide, < stems, flat to ± channelled, soft, slightly hairy on abaxial surface; sheaths ± hairy, brown. Inflorescence usually of a few small approximate spikes at very end of stem, with longer leaf-like bracts. Male spike 1, ± 12 × 3 mm, fusiform, pedunculate; glumes ovate, subobtuse, ciliate at top, brown. Female spikes usually 2, ± 10 × 5 mm, upper sessile, lower shortly pedunculate, rarely a very long-peduncled spike half way down stem; glumes ± = utricles, ovate, acute to mucronate, brown with green midrib. Utricles ± 2.5 × 1.2 mm, narrow-ellipsoid, obtuse, biconvex, distinctly nerved, smooth, bright green, without beak or stipe. Stigmas 3. Nut obovoid, trigonous.

[From: Healy and Edgar (1980) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 3.]