Herbs, perennial, cespitose, shortly rhizomatous. Culms trigonous, 20–50(–85) cm × 1–2(–4) mm, glabrous. Leaves 3–6(–10), 10–40(–55) cm × 1.5–4(–5) mm, V-to inversely W-shaped. Inflorescence: spike 1, densely oblong-ovoid often with small basal branches, 8–16 × 4–12(–16) mm; rays 4–8(–11), 0.5–3.5(–8.5) cm; bracts (3–)4–6(–10), ascending at (30–)45°, flat to broadly V-shaped, (4–)14–30(–55) cm × 1–5 mm, scabridulous along margins only; rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, 0.2–0.3 mm wide. Spikelets 40–120, oblong-lanceoloid, subterete, 2.2–4(–4.5) × 0.8–1.6 mm; distal spikelet spreading or ascending; floral scales persistent, 2–5, appressed, brown to stramineous, or fuscous and lustrous, medially greenish and 1(–3)-ribbed, laterally greenish to yellowish white and 3–4-ribbed, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 1.8–2.5 × 1–1.5 mm, subcoriacous. Flowers: anthers 0.3–0.5 mm; styles 0.5–0.8 mm; stigmas 0.6–0.9 mm. Achenes brown, oblong-ellipsoid, 1.2–1.7 × 0.5–0.6 mm, base cuneate, apex subacute, surfaces papillose.
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Perennial; stems very slender, smooth, 3–10 dm; lvs shorter than the stems, 3–5 mm wide; bracts 4–8, usually surpassing the infl; rays 5–9, to 10 cm; spikes short-cylindric, 6–25 × 6–12 mm; spikelets very numerous, crowded, radiating horizontally, 3–6 mm, 1–3-fld; scales thin, ovate, 2–2.5 mm, multinerved, obtuse or minutely mucronulate; achenes oblong-trigonous, 1–1.5 mm, a third to half as thick. Sandy barrens and coasts; s. N.Y. to Fla. and Tex., mostly on the coastal plain, n. in the interior to Ky. and Okla. (C. cylindricus, a preoccupied name; C. ovularis var. c.; C. torreyi)
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