Plants 35-70 cm; stems, leaves, and phyllaries glabrous, eglandular. Leaf blades oblanceolate. Phyllaries 3-nerved (nerves separating phyllary into 4 longitudinal bands), strongly indurate-stramineous proximally; outer 1.5-2 mm wide proximally.

Flowering Jul-Aug. Bogs, marshy areas, wet meadows; of conservation concern; 1000-1500 m; Calif.

Oreostemma elatum is known only from north-central Plumas County and perhaps adjacent Lassen County.