Plants cespitose; rhizomes never conspicuous. Culms erect, (30–) 35–65 cm. Leaves: sheaths and bases from previous year’s leaves persistent; ligules rounded; blades glabrous adaxially. Inflorescences unispicate and multispicate (often with 1–2 short peduncled lateral spikes of same sex), mostly erect, ellipsoid; primary inflorescence bracts leaflike, rarely scalelike, equal to or longer than inflorescences. Scales red-brown to purple, lanceolate, to 3 × 1 mm, shorter than perigynia, margins hyaline, central midrib extending to scale apex, apex acute. Perigynia purple-black, lanceolate, (2.5–)3(–4) × (1–)1.6(–2.5) mm, narrower than subtending scale, apex tapering, distal 1/3 with few short hairs; beak 0.5 mm, orifice oblique; rachilla absent. Achenes to 2.8 × 1.4 mm, loosely enveloped by perigynia, occupying 1/3–2/3 width and 1/3–3/4 length of perigynia. 2n = 58.
Home