Caespitose with old leaves at the base. Stems erect, 15–80 cm. Leaves basal and lower-cauline; blades 2–8 mm wide. Inflorescence of 3 to 6 pedunculate to subsessile, ascending, separate to overlapping, oblong to ovoid spikes. Spikes unisexual; terminal spike male, 6–15 mm long; lower female, 1–2 cm long. Perigynia green to yellowish, obovoid, inflated, 3–4 × 1.5–2.5 mm, with a distinct, bidentate beak <0.5 mm long; stigmas 3. Female scales purplish-black, shorter, narrower than the perigynia. Achene 3-sided, smaller than the perigynium (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).