Tufted, 1–7 dm, the stems usually much surpassing the lvs; main lvs 2–4 mm wide; peduncles and axis of the infl scabrous; staminate spike 1–2 cm, linear, long-peduncled,usually much overtopping the uppermost pistillate spike; pistillate spikes 2–4, widely separate or the upper 2 contiguous, short-cylindric, 1–2 cm, on short rough peduncles; bracts foliaceous, the margins of their sheaths rough; pistillate scales ovate, much shorter than the perigynia, the green midvein usually excurrent into a short awn; perigynia ellipsoid, 2.5–3.8 mm, a third to two-fifths as thick; achene concavely trigonous. Moist open places; Nf. and Que. to Minn., s. to N.C. and Mo.