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This sedge lacks a decent common name. Sometimes it is called 'Gray Sedge' and 'Narrow-Leaved Sedge,' but it is not gray and its leaf blades are not narrow for a sedge. Wood Gray Sedge closely resembles Carex amphibola (Narrow-Leaved Sedge) and Carex davisii (Davis' Sedge). Narrow-Leaved Sedge has leaf blades that are slightly more narrow, perigynia that are slightly shorter, and staminate spikelets with longer pedicels. Some authorities classify Wood Gray Sedge as a variety of Narrow-Leaved Sedge, or Carex amphibola turgida. Davis' Sedge has longer pistillate spikelets (up to 3' long) and its awned pistillate scales are longer than the perigynia. The staminate flowers of Davis' Sedge are located toward the bottom of the uppermost pistillate spikelet; this sedge lacks a separate staminate spikelet. Davis' Sedge also has finely hairy sheaths (at least on immature plants), while the sheaths of Wood Gray Sedge are always hairless.