Carex petitiana is a species of sedge in the family Cyperaceae that lives in swamps and bogs at altitudes of 1,800–3,600 metres (5,900–11,800 ft) in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Two subspecies are recognised: \n* C. petitiana subsp. attenuata – only recorded from Malawi and Zimbabwe \n* C. petitiana subsp. petitiana (Kük.) Luceño & M. Escudero – throughout the species' range