Plants loosely cespitose, in small clumps; rhizomes short. Culms erect, slender, 15–35 cm, rough distally. Leaves: sheaths pale brown abaxially, inner band hyaline, often red tinged, concave at summit; ligules wider than long; blades pale green or slightly gray-green, flat or slightly involute, 5–15 cm × 1–2 mm, shorter than culms. Inflorescences 0.8–2 cm × 5–10 mm; proximal bracts scalelike, occasionally bristlelike, shorter than spikes. Spikes 3–4(–6), lateral spikes gynecandrous, closely approximate or proximal spikes slightly separate, individually distinct, containing 5–10 perigynia, ovoid-globose, 4–7 × 5–10 mm; terminal spike not clavate. Pistillate scales red-brown with lighter center and broad white-hyaline margins, oblong-ovate, subequal to perigynia, apex obtuse. Perigynia appressed-ascending, green-white proximally and pale brown distally, often mid brown in mature perigynia, finely several-veined, elliptic-obovate, 2.5–3.5 × 1.2–1.5 mm, widest near middle, subcoriaceous; beak short, entire or with few marginal teeth. Achenes red-brown, broadly obovate, 1.5(–2) × 1–1.2 mm, dull to slightly glossy. 2n = 56.
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