Carex microptera

Carex microptera (smallwing sedge) and Carex huntii (Hunt's sedge) are distinct species of sedge with key differences in their appearance and habitat. C. microptera is a smaller, more delicate plant with slender, pointed spikes and a low-growing habit, typically found in dry, open habitats. In contrast, C. huntii is a larger, more robust plant with thicker, more upright culms and a larger, more prominent inflorescence, often found in wetter environments. This sedge produces dense clumps of erect triangular stems over 20 centimeters tall and up to about a meter in height. The leaves are linear and typically 2–5 mm wide and 10–50 cm long. They are green, have parallel veins, and are arranged in a 3-ranked, alternate pattern with the blades rising from a sheath that encloses the stem. The inflorescence is a dense cluster of green or brown spikes packed tightly and indistinct from each other. It forms a dense, head-like cluster with spikes that are tightly aggregated. The overall shape is typically globose to ovoid. The inflorescence has a two-toned appearance, being a mix of light to dark brown and green. Each spike is composed of female flowers above male flowers. The perigynia (the sac-like structures enclosing the flowers) are thin and appressed, contributing to the fine texture of the inflorescence.