Short-rhizomatous. Stems erect, 15–50 cm, tufted. Leaves mainly basal, yellowish; blades 2–5 mm wide. Inflorescence of 3 to 5 well-separated, pedunculate spikes; the lowest bract greater than the inflorescence. Spikes: 1–2 cm long; the uppermost male, erect, 8–25 mm long; the lower female, ascending to spreading, cylindric. Perigynia ascending to spreading, yellowish, narrowly obovoid, glabrous, veiny, 2.5–3.5 mm long; beak 0.4–0.7 mm long. Female scales ovate, acute, scarious-margined, shorter than the perigynia. Achene 3-sided, smaller than the perigynium (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).