Plants densely cespitose, in large clumps; rhizomes short. Culms erect, strict, stoutish (2.5-4 mm at base), (15-)20-50 cm. Leaves: sheaths pale brown abaxially, inner band hyaline, concave at summit; ligules slightly longer than wide, acutish; blades pale gray-green to bluish green, flat, 10-30 cm × 2-4 mm, subequal to shorter than culms. Inflorescences 1.5-3(-4) cm × 8-14 mm; proximal bracts shorter than to exceeding spikes; distal bracts scalelike. Spikes 3-6, gynecandrous, closely approximate, proximal spikes only slightly separate, containing 15-30 perigynia, ovoid to short-oblong, 6-10 × 4-6 mm; terminal spike staminate for less than 1/2 of length, not or scarcely clavate. Pistillate scales dull green-white, often red-brown tinged, midvein green, margins white-hyaline, ovate, subequal to somewhat concealing perigynia, apex cuspidate to acute. Perigynia appressed-ascending, gray-green, sometimes dark brown in age, obscurely many-veined faces, ovate-elliptic, 2.5-3 × 1.5 mm, widest near middle, membranous; beak nearly entire or few marginal teeth. Achenes yellow-brown, oblong-obovate, 1.5 × 1-1.25 mm, dull to slightly glossy. 2n = 56.

Fruiting May-Jun. Sphagnum bogs, other wet places, mostly lowlands; 0-50 m; B.C.; Alaska.