Rhizomes slender (1--1.5 mm wide). Stolons 1--1.5 mm wide. Culms cespitose, 45--70 cm. Leaves: sheath throat densely ciliate; basal leaf blade to 30 cm x 7 mm, densely ciliate; cauline leaf blade long-attenuate to thin apex, sparsely ciliate. Inflorescences anthelate; proximal inflorescence bract leaflike, ± equaling inflorescence length, apex attenuate; bracts brownish to clear, apex lacerate; bracteole margins entire to dentate to scarcely ciliate. Flowers in clusters of 2--8; tepals whitish to pinkish; outer whorl keeled, 1.7--2.1 mm; inner whorl 2.2--3 mm; anthers ca. 4 times filament length; stigmas shorter than styles. Capsules reddish, 1.5--1.8 mm; beak 0.4--0.6 mm. Seeds dark brown, shining, ellipsoid, 0.8--1.1 mm; caruncle 0.1--0.2 mm. 2n = 12 (Europe).

Flowering and fruiting late spring--summer. Open woods, fields, and lawns; 10--300 m; introduced; N.S., Ont., Que.; Conn., Maine, Mass., Minn., N.Y., Pa., Vt., Wis.; Europe.