Plants densely cespitose. Culms 5-30 cm, proximally scabrous. Leaves 2-3 mm wide. Inflorescences: proximal bracts shorter than or exceeding inflorescences; spikes overlapping, erect, elongate, sessile or short-pendunculate, contiguous, forming dense terminal cluster or separate, 10-20 × 5-7 mm; lateral 2-3 spikes pistillate; terminal spike gynecandrous. Pistillate scales dark brown or black to margins, lanceolate, 1-2 times as long as and narrower than perigynia, midvein lighter colored than body, conspicuous, frequently raised, prominent, apex acute or acuminate, mucronate. Perigynia ascending, dark brown or purple-black with green or yellowish brown margins, veinless, elliptic or obovate, 2.5-3 × 2-3 mm, apex gradually or abruptly beaked, distal margins smooth; beak 0.25-0.3 mm, bidentate, smooth. Achenes filling proximal 1/2 or less of perigynia.

Fruiting Jul-Aug. Rocky slopes; 2900-3800 m; Calif., Nev.