Densely caespitose. Stems erect, 5–40 cm. Leaves: basal and cauline; blades 1–2 mm wide. Inflorescence of 2 to 5 sessile spikes, aggregated in an ovoid to elongate head; the lower just overlapping; lowest bract inconspicuous. Spikes 5–12 mm long, all similar; female flowers above, male below. Perigynia ascending, brown, usually with green margins, narrowly elliptic, wing-margined, 3–5.5 × 1.5–2 mm, the indistinct beak, ca. 1 mm long, serrulate below, entire above; stigmas 2. Female scales tan to brown with a pale midstripe and hyaline margins, concealing the perigynia. Achene 2-sided, smaller than the perigynium (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Dry to moist, stony soil of meadows, turf, fellfields, open forest, cliffs; subalpine, alpine (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).