Perennial 1-3 dm with long rhizomes; lvs ±basally disposed, the lower sheaths bladeless, the upper with blades 2-4 mm wide; bracts 3, one erect, 2 spreading; spike solitary, sessile, round-ovoid, 5-10 mm; spikelets very numerous, 3.5-4.5 mm, 1-fld; scales pale, acuminate, with a smooth keel; stamens 2-3; anthers 0.6-0.8 mm; achenes lenticular, obovate, 1.5-1.8 mm. Wet ground; native of e. Asia, casually intr. from Conn. to Ga., Ala. and Tenn. (C. brevifolius, misapplied; Kyllinga brevifolioides)
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.