Cyperus cylindricus Chapman; C. deeringianus Britton & Small; C. litoreus (C. B. Clarke) Britton; C. pollardii Britton; C. retrorsus Chapman var. curtisii (C. B. Clarke) Kükenthal; C. retrorsus var. deeringianus (Britton & Small) Fernald & Griscom; C. winkleri Britton & Small; Mariscus curtisii C. B. Clarke; M. litoreus C. B. Clarke

Herbs, perennial, cespitose, (15–)30–100 cm. Culms not basally cormlike, trigonous, (15–)30–100 cm × 1–3 mm, glabrous. Leaves V-shaped, 10–65 cm × 2–4 mm. Inflorescences: spikes densely ovoid to cylindric, 8–17 mm wide; rays 1–6, 2–10 cm, glabrous; rachis 4–8 mm; bracts 3–9, ± horizontal, flat, 4–20 cm × 2–4 mm; rachilla persistent, wings deciduous, 0.2(–0.3) mm wide. Spikelets 30–80, oblong-lanceoloid, ± terete-quadrangular, 4–7 × 1.5–2 mm; distal spikelet spreading or ascending; floral scales persistent, 4–6, appressed, stramineous, laterally 3-ribbed, oblong-elliptic, 1.9–2.6 × 1.1–1.5 mm. Flowers: anthers 0.3–0.5 mm; styles 0.5 mm; stigmas 1–2 mm. Achenes brown, ± stipitate, oblong-fusiform, 1.2–1.5 × 0.4–0.6 mm, apex ± acute, surfaces puncticulate.

Fruiting spring–summer. Sandy soils of beaches, coastal woods; 0–100 m; Ala., Fla., Ga., Miss., N.C., S.C.