Extensively colonial from creeping rhizomes, stems rather stout, 3–7 dm; lvs few, mostly near the base, ± with narrow, channeled or triangular blade 1–2 mm wide; bladeless sheaths 1 or 2, the upper near or below the middle of the stem; sterile scales few, obovate to triangular-ovate, blackish, pale-margined, ascending; anthers 1–2.5 mm; bristles reddish-brown to nearly white; achene dark, oblong-obovate, 2–2.7 mm, a third as wide, distinctly (0.3–0.5 mm) apiculate; 2n=58. Bogs; circumboreal, s. to N.B., Minn., and Oreg. Fr July, Aug. (E. russeolum