Carex caroliniana Schweinitz var. cuspidata (Dewey) Shinners

Culms 30–90 cm, sparsely pilose. Leaves: sheaths pilose; ligules as long as or slightly longer than wide; blades 1.5–4 mm wide, pilose. Inflorescences: terminal spike gynecandrous, at least 1/2 of flowers pistillate, 12–22 mm; lateral spikes usually crowded, 6–16 × 4.5–11 mm. Pistillate scales lanceolate, 2.5–3.5(–5) × 1.1–1.5(–1.7) mm, exceeding perigynia, apex acuminate, at least proximal scale with awn 0.5–2 mm. Staminate scales lanceolate, 3.2–5.2 mm, apex acuminate, often awned. Anthers 2–3 mm. Perigynia spreading, 9–13-veined, obovate-circular, circular in cross section, 2.5–4 × 1.4–2.1 mm, papillose, pubescent; beak absent. Achenes 2–2.6 × (1.1–)1.4–1.7 mm. 2n = 64.

Fruiting late spring–early summer. Dry to mesic grasslands, forest margins; 0–500 m; Ark., Conn., Del., D.C., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kans., Md., Mass., Mich., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Okla., Pa., R.I., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.