Culms 15–50 cm, pilose. Leaves: sheaths pilose; ligules longer than wide; blades 1.5–3 mm wide, pilose. Inflorescences: lateral spikes approximate or proximal distant, 6–12 × 4–7 mm; terminal spike staminate or, rarely, gynecandrous with not more than 1/4 flowers pistillate, 8–16 × 2–4 mm. Pistillate scales ovate-circular, 2–3 × 1.6–2.5 mm, not more than 1.5 times as long as wide, shorter than perigynia, apex obtuse to acuminate. Staminate scales ovate, 3.2–4.1 mm, apex acute or acuminate. Anthers 1.9–2.4 mm. Perigynia ascending, strongly 18–24-veined, ovate or obovate, 2.2–3.2 × 1.5–2.2 mm, glabrous; beak 0.2–0.5(–1) mm. Achenes 2–2.5 × 1.5–1.9 mm.

Fruiting summer. Meadows, moist woods; 200–2500 m; Alta., Man., Sask.; Colo., Minn., Mont., N.Dak., S.Dak., Wis., Wyo.