This is a densely tufted sedge, with only short rhizomes from 15 to 150 cm in height. The leaves are light green and shiny on the underside, but dark green and matt on the upper surface.

Either obtain confirmation from a County Recorder before submitting a record, or submit detailed images showing key features.  We recommend that you take and retain a specimen; the County Recorder may wish to see this for confirmation. 

Heath grassland and woodland on acid soil.

Fruiting June to August.

Perennial.

Widespread in much of Britain but scattered and local in some parts of central and eastern England.

Locally frequent in the Charnwood forest area but scarce elsewhere in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 18 of the 617 tetrads.