Stems 3.5–15 cm. Leaves: basal leaves 2–7, linear, 3–11 × 0.8–1 mm; cauline leaves subulate to linear, 2–12 × 0.3–1 mm. Inflorescences 1–2-flowered; floral bracts lanceolate to ovate, 2–5 mm. Flowers 3-winged, 5–10(–14) mm, wings yellow, to 1.8 mm wide; per-ianth yellow or greenish; perianth tube 6-lobed; outer lobes erect, triangular, 1.3–1.8 mm; inner lobes linear or elliptic, 1–1.5 mm. Capsules 3–6 mm.

Flowering fall (Oct). Coastal plain; 0--50 m; Fla.; Mexico; West Indies (Cuba); Central America; South America (to Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil).