Culms 30-90 cm. Inflorescences 6-12(-15) cm, all but distalmost spikes distant, proximal 2 spikes 2-5 cm apart. 2n = 54. Fruiting Apr-Jul. Wet, usually base-poor habitats, such as sphagnum bogs, moist coniferous forests and meadows, from lowlands to near the timberline in mountains; 0-3500 m; St. Pierre and Miquelon; N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que.; Conn., Del., D.C., Ill., Ind., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., R.I., S.C., Vt., Va., Wis. Carex canescens subsp. disjuncta is a dominating subspecies in the southern part of the range of the species in eastern North America; it grades into subsp. canescens in northern areas. Subspecies disjuncta differs from subsp. canescens in its longer culms (to 90 cm), leaves, inflorescences [1-12(-15) cm], and spikes. The subglobular spikes are often more numerous and the proximal separated by 2-5 cm. The perigynia are slightly longer, clearly wider and more abruptly beaked than in the type subspecies.