Rhizomes 1-1.5 mm thick. Culms 5-20 cm, 2-2.5 mm thick at base. Leaves: sheaths to 13 cm, fronts uniformly colorless or pale brown; blades with inconspicuous median groove, not flattened, terete in cross section, 5-12 cm × 0.4-10 mm, lacking conspicuous air cavities. Inflorescences 0.7-2 cm × 4-6 mm, staminate portion to 5 mm. Pistillate scales yellow-brown medially, 1-veined, equaling perigynia in width, usually shorter, apex obtuse or acute, not inrolled, awns absent. Anthers 1.5-2 mm. Perigynia veinless, stipitate, elliptic, 2.5-3.5 × 1.5 mm, tightly enclosing and distended by achene, base narrowly cuneate, apex acute; beak erose; rachilla shorter than fruit. Stigma 1.5-2.5 mm. Achenes sessile.

Fruiting Sep. Moist rocky slopes, alpine meadows; above 2500 m; Idaho, Nev., Oreg., Utah, Wyo.