Herbs, perennial, cespitose, 3--9 dm. Culms erect, 2--4 mm diam., scabrous. Cataphylls 0 or 1--2, straw-colored, apex acuminate. Leaves: basal 1--2, cauline 1--2; auricles 1--7.5 mm, apex rounded, scarious; blade terete, 4--25 cm x 1--1.8 mm, scabrous. Inflorescences panicles of 5--30 heads, 12--15 cm, erect to ascending branches; primary bract erect; heads 2--6-flowered, broadly obovoid, 5--10 mm diam. Flowers: tepals green to reddish brown, lanceolate; outer tepals 3.3--3.9 mm, apex acuminate; inner tepals 3.9--4.7 mm, acuminate; stamens 6, anthers 1/2 filament length. Capsules exserted, chestnut brown, 3-locular, ovoid, 4.5--5.3 mm, apex acuminate, valves separating at dehiscence. Seeds fusiform, 2.2--2.6 mm, tailed. ; seed body covered with whitish translucent veil. Fruiting mid summer--early fall. Wet springy bogs, swamps, and borders of wet woods; 0--100 m; N.S.; Del., D.C., Md., N.J., N.C., Pa., Va.