Herbs, perennial, 20--70 cm tall, glabrous except for bractlets and calyces. Leaves all basal; leaf blade oblong to oblong-spatulate, 2--4 X 0.8--1 cm, glaucous. Stems 2--8, straight, subterete, dichotomously branched at base; branches flexuous, terete. Inflorescences corymbose, with few sterile branches; spikes 2 or 3, dense, on apical part of stem, with 5--11 spikelets; spikelets 4--7(--11)-flowered; bracts obovate, 3--4 mm, glabrous or slightly pubescent, margin scarious; first bractlet membranous, pubescent. Pedicel 1--1.5 mm. Calyx white to pale yellow, funnelform, 5--7 mm, densely pubescent; lobes shortly triangular, apex awned. Corolla yellow. Fl. Jul, fr. Jul-Aug.