Plants densely cespitose. Culms 51–97 cm. Leaves: sheaths adaxially green-veined nearly to collar, ± white-hyaline triangular area to 6 mm proximal to collar, firm, summits tinged brown, usually rounded, prolonged to 1.5–6 mm beyond collar; distal ligules (3–)4–8 mm; blades 3–4(–5) per fertile culm, 15–25(–45) cm × (2.5–)3–4(–5) mm. Inflorescences proximal branches often bearing several spikes, green to pale brown, 3.5–8 cm × 10–13 mm; proximal internode 5–12 mm; 2d internode 4–11 mm; proximal bracts bristlelike, shorter than inflorescences. Spikes (6–)8–12, distant, distinct, broadly ovoid, 11–18 × 6–8 mm, base attenuate, apex rounded. Pistillate scales white-hyaline or pale gold, with green, gold, or brown midstripe, lanceolate to ovate, 2.7–3.5 mm, somewhat shorter and narrower than perigynia, apex obtuse or acute. Perigynia ascending to ascending-spreading, white or gold conspicuously (1–)3–8-veined abaxially, conspicuously 1–7-veined adaxially, ovate to broadly ovate, flat or plano-convex, 3.2–4.2 × 1.7–2.1 mm, 0.4–0.5 mm thick, margin flat, including wing 0.3–0.5(–0.6) mm wide, ciliate-serrulate at least distally; beak white or gold at tip, flat, ± ciliate-serrulate, abaxial suture inconspicuous or with conspicuous white margin, distance from beak tip to achene (1.5–)1.8–2.4 mm. Achenes ovate to obovate, (1.3–)1.5–1.8 × 0.9–1.2 mm, 0.4–0.5 mm thick. 2n = 66.
