Rhizomes short, stoloniferous. Culms 0.6-1.8 m tall, 7-12 mm thick, obtusely 3-angled, 5-7-nodose. Leaves cauline, as long as or shorter than inflorescence; leaf blade 4-15 mm wide, flat, abaxial midvein and margin usually scabrous. Involucral bracts 2-4, leaflike, much longer than inflorescence. Inflorescence a terminal large compound anthela; rays many, to 10 cm, apically scabrous. Spikelets usually solitary or in clusters of 2 or 3, dark gray, ovoid to narrowly ovoid to rarely ovoid, 4-6 × ca. 2 mm, many flowered. Glumes dark green, broadly ovate, ca. 1.5 mm, with 3 yellowish green veins, apex acute to subrounded. Perianth bristles 5 or 6, as long as or slightly longer than nutlet, erect, retrorsely scabrous. Stamens 3; anthers linear-oblong, ca. 1 mm; connective apex very short. Style slightly longer than nutlet; stigmas 3. Nutlet pale yellow, obovoid to ellipsoid, compressed 3-sided. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Aug. 2n = 60.
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