Plants densely or loosely cespitose. Culms 15–50(–70) cm, distally scabrous. Leaves 2–4 mm wide. Inflorescences: proximal bracts shorter than or exceeding inflorescence; lateral 1–2(–4) spikes pistillate; proximal spikes distant, erect, and short-pedunculate; distal lateral and/or terminal spikes overlapping, sessile, contiguous, and forming dense terminal cluster, globose or oblong, 5–12 × 3–6 mm; terminal spike gynecandrous. Pistillate scales dark brown to black to margins or distally hyaline, ovate or lanceolate, shorter than (often 1/2 the length), as broad as perigynia, midvein same color as body, inconspicuous. Perigynia erect or spreading, proximal ones sometimes reflexed, pale green becoming golden brown, veinless or few-veined from base to summit, ovate, 2.5–3.5 mm, distal margins occasionally serrulate, apex gradually or abruptly beaked, smooth or papillose; beak 0.3–0.4 mm, bidentate, smooth or serrulate. Achenes nearly filling body of perigynia.
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