Stems stout, 3–6 dm, in dense colonies from stout rhizomes, aphyllopodic, the basal lvs reduced to bladeless sheaths; stem-lvs firm, flat, 3–5 mm wide; terminal spike peduncled, staminate, 1–3 cm, often with 1 or 2 smaller ones at its base; pistillate spikes 1 or 2, erect, widely separated, the lower peduncle longer than the upper; bracts with conspicuous loose sheaths and well developed blades usually exceeding the spikes; pistillate scales ovate, much shorter than the perigynia, with purplish-brown sides and conspicuous green center; perigynia numerous, crowded in several rows, glabrous, 4–5.5 mm, stoutly ellipsoid, obscurely nerved except the 2 prominent lateral keels, the prominent beak straight or somewhat outcurved, 1.3–2.2 mm, with a very oblique orifice; achene broadly obovoid-trigonous, loosely enveloped. Dry open woods, mostly in acid soils; Me. to Md. and W.Va.
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