Herbs, perennial, occasionally tufted, occasionally rhizomatous, 3--9 dm. Rhizomes, if present, short. Culms green or glaucous, 1.5--2.5 mm diam. Cataphylls several. Leaves: blade absent. Inflorescences lateral, many flowered, loose to congested, 2--9 cm; primary bract exceeding inflorescence. Flowers variously pedicellate; bracteoles membranous; tepals greenish, light brown or reddish, lanceolate, 2.3--3 mm; inner series nearly equal, margins scarious; stamens 6, filaments 0.6--1 mm, anthers 0.4--0.6 mm; style 0.1 mm. Capsules 3-locular or pseudo-3-locular, nearly globose, 2--2.7 mm, equal to or exceeding perianth. Seeds dark amber, oblate, 0.4--0.5 mm.

Flowering and fruiting summer. Stream banks, lake or pond shores, ditches, and other wet places in sandy or clayey soils; 0--1600 m; Calif., Oreg.; nw Mexico., Wash.