Rhizomatous. Stems erect, 8–80 cm. Leaves basal and cauline; blades 3–10 mm wide. Inflorescence of 3 to 6 well-separated spikes; the lowest bract equal to or shorter than the inflorescence. Spikes ascending; the uppermost 1 or 2 male; the lower female, 1–5 cm long, pedunculate, cylindric. Perigynia ascending, green to tan, obovate, 5- to 9-veined, glabrous, 2.5–3.5 mm long with a short divided beak. Female scales acuminate, awn-tipped, dark brown with a pale midstripe, longer and narrower than the perigynia. Achene 2-sided, filling the perigynia (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Wet meadows, marshes, pastures, banks of streams, ponds, tolerant of alkaline and saline soil; plains, valleys, montane (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).