Culms densely tufted, slightly winged, 9.2–56 cm × 0.8–1.1 mm. Leaves: basal sheaths brown or light brown; sheaths 1–40 mm; blades erect, ascending, or lax, dark green, midrib well developed abaxially, margins serrulate distally, 6.2–17 × 2.8–32 cm, blades of overwintering leaves smooth Inflorescences: peduncles of lateral spikes absent; of terminal spike 1.3–7.3(–15) mm. Bracts 2–4, blade 1.2–21 cm × 2.6–11 mm, widest bract blade per plant 5.3–11 mm wide; bract blade of distal lateral spikes lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, wider than spikes, wides bract blade of distalmost lateral spike (2.9–)3.2–8.3 mm wide. Spikes 4–5 per culm, lateral spikes 5.3–18(–23) × 3.7–4.6 mm, distal 2–3 spikes overlapping and concealed by bracts; terminal spike linear, 5.8–13(–18) × 0.9–2.1 mm wide, proximal to or overtoppped by distal 2 bracts, usually exceeded by or, sometimes, subequal to distalmost lateral spike. Pistillate scales 1.1–4.2 × 1.4–1.8 mm; body ovate, 1.1–2.2, margins usually whitish, apex acute and awnless or awned, awn 0–2.2 mm. Staminate scales 1.9–3.8 × 0.8–1.5 mm, apex obtuse or acute, awnless. Anthers 1.8–2.3 mm. Perigynia 3–8(–14) per spike, spirally overlapping, aggregated, 29–34-veined, ovate or oblong, faces flat or slightly convex, 2.7–4.2(–5) × 1.3–1.7(–1.8) mm, base abruptly contracted to 0.1–0.2 mm stipe; beak excurved 30–45° from long axis of perigynium, 0.2–0.6(–1) mm wide. Achenes 1.9–2.5(–2.9) × 1.2–1.6(–1.7).