Herbs, perennial, robust, tufted, often forming clumps to 1 m diam., 6--12 dm. Culms 3--4 mm diam. Cataphylls 1--2. Leaves basal, 2--4; sheaths brownish, inflated; auricles absent or prolonged 1--3 mm, cartilaginous; blade terete, 30--100 dcm x 2--3 mm. Inflorescences sympodial or appearing lateral, glomerules numerous, each with 2--5 flowers, branches unequal, 5--20 cm; primary bract inflated, usually shorter than inflorescence. Flowers: tepals straw-colored, brown-tipped, 2--4 mm; outer tepals widely lanceolate, margins scarious, apex obtuse to acutish; inner tepals rounded, shorter; stamens 6, filaments 0.2--0.4 mm, anthers 1.2--1.8 mm; style 1--1.2 mm. Capsules yellow-brown, pseudo-3-locular, nearly globose, 3.5--5 x 2.4--3.3 mm, obviously exceeding perianth, mucronate. Seeds brownish, obliquely obovoid, body 0.6--0.7 mm, tails 0.2--0.3 mm.

Flowering and fruiting late spring--summer. Moist saline habitats and alkaline seeps; below 300 m; Ariz., Calif., Nev.; Mexico (Baja California); South America; South Africa; Atlantic Islands.