Stems 20-40(-50) cm, glabrous. Leaves: basal blades erect to somewhat spreading, filiform, 3-8(-14) cm × 0.4-0.7 mm, herba-ceous. Inflorescences capitate, often pyramidal, dense cymes; bracts closely enveloping sepals. Pedicels ± absent, mostly shorter than 0.1 mm, glabrous. Sepals weakly to conspicuously 1-3-veined, 4-5 mm, apex acute to acuminate.

Flowering summer. Open, gravelly woods; 300-1000 m; Idaho, Oreg., Wash.

The pyramidal inflorescence of var. cephaloidea bears a fanciful resemblance to the grass Dactylis glomerata Linnaeus and some members of Carex Linnaeus sect. Ovales Kunth.