Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous, 0.5--7 dm. Rhizomes 1 mm diam., not swollen. Culms erect, terete, 1.5--3 mm diam., smooth. Cataphylls 0--1, maroon or straw-colored, apex acute. Leaves: basal 1--3, cauline 1--2; auricles 1--3.2 mm, apex rounded to acute, membranaceous; blade green, laterally flattened, 1.5--31 cm x 0.5--2.2 mm. Inflorescences terminal panicles of 2--11 heads, 2--18 cm, branches erect to spreading; primary bract erect; heads 3--11-flowered, hemispheric to obpyramidal (rarely nearly spheric), 5--14 mm diam. Flowers: tepals dark brown to white, lanceolate, apex acute to acuminate, mucro subulate; outer tepals 2.8--6.2 mm; inner tepals 2.4--6 mm; stamens 6, anthers 1--2 times filament length. Capsules included to slightly exserted, chestnut brown, ellipsoid, 2.3--3.7 mm, abruptly contracted to apex, apex acute proximal to beak, valves separating at dehiscence. Seeds ellipsoid, 0.4--0.5 mm, not tailed.
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