Herbs, perennial, cespitose or not, rhizomatous. Culms terete. Leaves cauline; ligules present; proximal leaves bladeless, distal with well-developed blades, flat. Inflorescences axillary, spicate, with 3-10 spikelets per spike; primary bracts leaflike, each subtending spike. Spikelets: scales 4-8, distichously arranged, each subtending flower. Flowers bisexual; perianth of 6-9 retrorsely barbed bristles, slightly longer than achene; stamens 3; styles 2-fid, base persistent, linear. Achenes biconvex. x = 16.

Spikelets crowded in rather short, axillary spikes of mostly 7-10, distichous on the rachis; scales distichous, each subtending a perfect fl, their margins hyaline and decurrent on the eventually disarticulating rachilla as a hyaline wing; bristles 6-9, retrorsely barbed, exceeding the achene; stamens 3; style bifid; achene flattened, linear-oblong; tall, rhizomatous perennial sedges with subterete, hollow, jointed, leafy stems, numerous short blades and numerous short-peduncled spikes solitary in the upper axils. Monotypic.

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

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