Herbs, perennial, tufted, 3--9 dm. Rhizomes densely branching. Culms few to many. Cataphylls 1--3. Leaves basal, 0--1(--2); auricles 0.2--0.4(--0.6) mm, scarious to leathery; blade nearly terete but slightly channeled adaxially, 10--50 cm x 0.7--1.8 mm, margins entire.. Inflorescences falsely lateral, 5--35-flowered, loose to congested, 1--8 cm; primary bract exceeding inflorescence. Flowers: pedicels 0.5--2.5 mm; bracteoles 2; tepals dark green, lanceolate, 3.5--5 mm; inner series slightly shorter, apex acute; stamens 6, fewer in cleistogamous flowers, filaments 0.8--1.2 mm, anthers 0.5--1.1 mm; style 0.9--1.3 mm. Capsules light to dark brown, 1-locular, widely ovoid to nearly globose, 3.5--5 x 2.6--3.2 mm. Seeds light to dark brown, oblate, 0.55--0.73 mm, not tailed. 2n = 80.

Flowering and fruiting spring--early summer. Springy, wet woodlands, stream banks, marshy areas, flatwood depressions, and shaded or exposed disturbed, sites with poor drainage; Ala., Ark., Del., Fla., Ga., Ky., La., Md., Miss., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex.as, Va.