Carex stenophylla Wahlenberg var. reptabunda Trautvetter, Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 1(2): 194. 1871; C. decurticaulis Ohwi; C. heilongjiangensis Y. L. Chou.

Rhizome long creeping. Culms 10-60 cm tall, slender, subflexuose, smooth or slightly scabrous above. Leaves shorter than culm, blades linear, 1-1.5 mm wide, involute on margins, rarely plicate, scabrous above. Involucral bracts glumelike. Spicate inflorescence ovate or oblong, somewhat lax, 8-12 × 4-10 mm; spikes 2-5, androgynous, ovate. Female glumes ferruginous, broadly ovate or oblong-ovate, 3-3.5 × ca. 1.5 mm, 1-veined, margins broadly white hyaline, apex acute. Utricles pale, ferruginous above, subequaling or longer than glume, ovate or oblong-ovate, plano-convex, 3-4.5 mm, membranous, finely many veined or nerveless on both faces, base subrounded, shortly stipitate, apex gradually attenuate into a short smooth beak, orifice white hyaline, 2-toothed. Nutlets loosely enveloped, ovate, plano-convex or slightly biconvex, 1.5-2 mm; style short; stigmas 2. Fl. and fr. May-Jul.

Wet grasslands. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Shaanxi [Mongolia, Russia (E Siberia)].