Herbs, annual, cespitose, not rhizomatous. Culms (5-)15-30(-55) cm, smooth. Leaves flat to V-shaped, 4-20(-30) cm × 1.5-3(-3.6) mm. Inflorescences: spikes 1-3, pale greenish, (3-)5-8(-11) × 5-7 mm; bracts (3-) 4(-5), horizontal to ascending at 30°, flat, (1-)3-10(-22) cm × 1-2.5(-3) mm. Spikelets 50-150, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, (1.9-)2.4-2.8(-3.8) × 0.6-0.9 mm; floral scales pale brownish to transparent, midvein not winged, laterally 2-3(-4)-veined, ovate, (1.8-)2.2-3.1(-3.4) × 1-1.7 mm; stamens 2; anthers elliptic, (0.2-)0.3-0.4 mm; style 0.5-0.8 mm; stigmas 0.5-0.9 mm. Achenes light brown, stipitate, oblong, 1-1.2(-1.4) × 0.5-0.6(-0.7) mm, base cuneate to rounded, stipe to 0.1 mm, apex subtruncate, apiculate, finely papillose. Fruiting summer. Damp grasslands, shorelines, ditches, lawns, gardens; 0-200 m; Ala., Ark., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kans., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C, Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America; South America; Africa.