A densely tufted sedge, with smooth trigonous stems with rounded angles.  Inflorescence has upper male spike(s) and lower female; utricles are green, ribbed, partly inflated and with a long notched beak.

other sedges

Photograph plant in situ and details of infloresence and utricles. We recommend that the record is verified by an expert before submission to NatureSpot, preferably from a specimen.

Damp shady places, woodlands on heavy soils

Scattered throughout most of British Isles; absent from most of central and eastern England (ref. Stace, 4th edition, 2019)

Locally scarce; possibly increasing (ref. VC55 Rare Plant Register, Hall & Woodward, 2022

See New Flora of the British Isles, 4th edition (Stace, 2019) or BSBI handbook on Sedges (Jermy et al, 2007) for detailed descriptions and keys

See Plant Atlas 2020 webpage for Carex laevigata for further details of ecology, national status and distribution