Culms 2-4.5 cm. Leaves of flowering stems thickened, recurved, shorter to equaling culms, to 3 cm × 1.6-3.5 mm ligules of distal cauline leaves usually obsolete. Inflorescences: peduncles of terminal staminate spikes 0.8-4 mm; proximal pistillate spikes 1-3, 4-5.5 mm wide; terminal staminate spikes 5.1-6.1 × 1.6-2.1 mm. Perigynia 2.3-2.8 × 1.3-1.5 mm; beak forming an angle of 5-28° with body. Achenes 1.2-1.4 × 0.9-1 mm.

Fruiting Jul-Aug. Moist to wet, exposed shores and limestone barrens, frequently subjected to fog and salt-spray, on lime-rich soils; 0-50 m; Nfld. and Labr., N.S.