Culms densely tufted, ascending, lax or decumbent, 45-87 cm × 2-2.2 mm brownish. Leaves: basal sheaths; sheaths green, lighter toward base, 7-55 mm; blades ascending, green, corrugate, 19-52 cm × 3-16 mm, blades of overwintering leaves smooth abaxially. Inflorescences: peduncles of lateral spikes 0-15 cm; of terminal spike 0.2-4 cm; bracts 2.5-13 × 3-10 mm, blade of distal lateral spike linear. Spikes (3-)4(-5) per culm; lateral spikes erect, 12-27 × 2.7-3 mm; terminal spike linear-clavate, 15-21 × 2-2.7 mm, usually from sheath of distal lateral spike. Pistillate scales 2.7-3.1 × 1.9-2.3 mm, apex aristate to acute. Staminate scales obovate, 5.7-6.2 × 2.7-3 mm, margins hyaline and brownish, apex acute. Anthers 3-3.2 mm. Perigynia 7-12 per spike, scattered on proximal spikes, ratio of longer lateral spike length to perigynia number 1.9-3.4, aggregated on distal spikes, (22-)25-32-veined, linear, 4.6-6 × 1.8-2.3 mm; beak slightly concave at maturity, 0.5-1.8 mm. Achenes ellipsoid, 4.5-5 × 1.6-2 mm.

Fruiting spring-summer. Moist, mixed deciduous-evergreen forests; 5-1000 m; B.C.; Calif., Idaho, Oreg., Wash.