Elyna sibirica Turczaninow ex Ledebour, Fl. Ross. 4: 262. 1852; Kobresia hyperborea A. E. Porsild; K. macrocarpa Clokey ex Mackenzie

Culms 5–40 cm. Leaves: basal sheaths somewhat glossy, bladeless; blades filiform, 2–15 cm × 0.25–0.5 mm. Inflorescences simple, 10–20 × 4–8 mm; proximal spikelets usually androgynous with 1–2 staminate flowers, 1 pistillate flower, and 1–3 scales; distal spikelets staminate, 1-flowered. Scales brown, obovate-circular, 3.5–5.5 mm, midvein distinct only near base, margins hyaline, apex obtuse. Anthers 2–3 mm. Perigynia brown, finely veined, 3.5–5.5 mm, margins connate near base. Achenes 2.6–4 mm.

Fruiting summer. Dry to mesic tundra; 0–3600 m; N.W.T., Nunavut, Yukon; Alaska, Colo., Wyo.; c, n Asia.

Kobresia sibirica, a local and variable species, is not yet fully understood. Some authors consider K. hyperborea and K. macrocarpa to be distinct endemic North American species; other authors include those and K. sibirica in the southwest Asian species K. schoenoides (C. A. Meyer) Steudel. In the Asian plants, the androgynous spikelets are reported as having 3 staminate flowers and no sterile scales.