C. canescens Leers, Fl. herborn.: 197. 1775 non L., Sp. Pl. 2: 974. 1753. C. leersii F.W. Schultz in Flora 53: 459. 1879 non Willd., Fl. Berol. Prodr.: 28. 1787. C. muricata L. var. leersii Kneuck. in Seubert-Klein, Excurs.-Fl. Baden, ed. 5: 52. 1891. C. muricata L. subsp. leersii (Kneuck.) Aschers. & Graebn., Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 2,2: 40. 1902. C. echinata Murray var. leersii (Kneuck.) Kük. in Engler, Pflanzenr. IV.20, 38: 161. 1909. C. pairaei F.W. Schultz var. leersii (Kneuck.) Kük. in B.A. Fedtsch., Russk. Bot. Journ. 1911: 55. 1911. ?C. polyphylla Kar. & Kir., Bull. Soc. Nat. Mosc. 1841,4: 859. 1841.

Caespitose perennial, 40-90 cm. Rhizome robust, covered with dark remains of old stem bases. Stems thick, basally slightly swollen. Leafsheaths 30-70 mm, dark greyish-brown or reddish, strongly nerved, soon fibrous, margin of scarious side straight; leafblades (2.5-)3-3.5 mm wide. Inflorescence 35-70 mm, of (3-)6-8(-10) spikes. Spikes globose, c. 7 x 7 mm; female glumes 3.6-4.3 x 1.6-2.3 mm, triangular, acute; utricles 4.5-5.4 x 1.9-2.5 mm, plano-convex, ovoid, widest part near base, glossy, clearly nerved, base slightly suberous and wrinkled, beak 1.4-2.3 mm. Nut 2.5-2.7 x 1.9 mm, bi-convex.

Fl. Per.: May - August.

Type: Described from Germany.

On forest floor, glades, meadows, 600-2100 m; Distribution: C. and S. Europe, SW Asia, Caucasus, Iran, Turkestan, Pakistan, Kashmir, to C. Asia and S. Siberia until River Yenisey.

Reported from Chitral (R.R.Stewart, l.c.), Kurram (C.B.Clarke, l.c.) and Kashmir (C.B.Clarke, l.c. & R.R.Stewart, l.c.).