Scleria pauciflora, known as few-flowered nutrush, papillose nut-sedge, and Carolina-whipgrass, is a plant in the sedge family (Cyperaceae) native to northern Mexico, the eastern United States, southern Canada, and Cuba. It is common across a broad stretch of the southeastern United States in many different habitat types, becoming rare at the northern end of its distribution.
It was first formally described in 1805. Three varieties are accepted:
It is listed as endangered in Massachusetts and Michigan and as threatened in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. In Canada, it is only known from Ontario, where it is listed as an S1 species (Critically Imperiled).
The variety Scleria pauciflora var. caroliniana is listed as endangered in Connecticut.