Plants densely cespitose; rhizomes absent. Culms trigonous, 10-40 cm, scabrous proximal to inflorescence. Leaves: basal sheaths brown; distal leaf sheaths concave at mouth; blades 10-400 × 0.8-2 mm, equaling or exceeding culms at flowering and fruiting. Inflorescences: spikelets 3-8-flowered, 4.1-5.2 × 1.5-2.1 mm; bracts equaling spikelets, 3.7-6 mm, apex awned, awn to 3 mm. Spikelets: scales orange-brown to dark brown, midribs excurrent, apex mucronate. Flowers: perianth bristles 3-6, brown, terete, nearly equaling achenes, scabrous; anthers 1-1.5 mm. Achenes compressed trigonous, 1.5-2 × 0.7-1.1 mm. Fruiting summer (Jun-Jul). Mesic to dry hardwood forests, usually with oak component, often on hillsides; 50-900 m; Ont.; Conn., Del., D.C., Ill., Md., Mass., Mo., N.J., N.Y., Ohio, Pa., R.I., Vt., Va., W.Va.