C. erostrata (Boott) C.B. Clarke, in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind.: 711. 1894. C. alpina Swartz subsp. infuscata (Nees) Kük. var. erostrata (Boott) Kük., in Engler, Pflanzenr. 4.20, 38: 386. 1909. C. infuscata Nees var. erostrata (Boott) T. Koyama in Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 17(4): 97. 1958.

Loosely tufted perennial, 4-12 cm. Rhizome sturdy, covered with grey-brown, finally fibrous scales; producing short, ascending stolons. Stem erect or base ascending, trigonous, scabrous above, papillose, grey-green. Leaves from 1/2 to as long as stem; sheaths 10-20 mm, strongly nerved, grey-brown to brown, sometimes with reddish tint, margin of scarious side slightly concave; ligule to 0.5 mm, scarious, brownish, arch as high as wide; blades 1.5-2.5 mm wide, carinate, margins slightly revolute, both sides densely papillose, grey-green, apical part scabrous. Inflorescence 5-15 mm, by 2-3 spikes, close together. Lowest bracts usually remote, to 30 mm, sterile; spikes 5-10 x 3-6 mm, ellipsoid, terminal usually gynecandrous, other mostly female; female glumes 1.6-1.7 x 0.8-1.1 mm, cymbiform, triangular, acute or obtuse, reddish black-brown, papillose; utricles 1.8-2.5 x 0.9-1.1 mm, briefly clavate, slightly inflated, finally golden brown, obscurely nerved, papillose, beak up to 0.1 mm, ostiole round, with black, papillose margins. Stigmas 3. Nut 1.4-1.9 x 0.7-0.9 mm, obconical, triangular, light brown, areole elongated along edges.

Fl. Per.: July-August.

Type: W Himalaya, Schlagintweit 8643.

Along streams on meadows above tree-line; Distribution.: From N Pakistan to W Himalayas and Xizang.

The small specimen from Swat: Stewart & Rahman 25292 is probably best placed here. However, the size of the utricles and the length of the female glumes suggest it as an intermediate between C. infuscata and C. pseudobicolor.