Herbs, perennial, strongly tufted, 0.5--3 dm. Rhizomes densely short-branched. Culms terete. Cataphylls several. Leaves: auricles 0.2--0.3 mm, apex acute to rounded, scarious. Inflorescences 1--3-flowered, open; primary bract terete, 2--4 cm, usually longer than inflorescence. Flowers pedicellate; bracteoles broadly ovate; tepals light brown with green midstripe, lanceolate, 5.5--9 mm, margins scarious; inner series loosely subtending capsule at maturity, shorter; stamens 6, filaments 0.7--1 mm, anthers 1.1--1.6 mm; style 0.2 mm. Capsules tan, 3-locular, narrowly oblong, 6--9 x 1.5--2 mm, usually exceeding perianth. Seeds amber, body 0.6 mm, tails 0.4 mm.

Flowering and fruiting summer. Exposed rocky slopes and stream banks in montane and alpine areas, conifer forests; 1500--4000 m; Alta., B.C.; Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Oreg.,., Utah, Wash., Wyo.