Culms 15–40 cm. Proximal leaf blades 20–80 cm × 4–8 mm, smooth, glaucous and finely papillose abaxially, green and scabrid adaxially. Inflorescences with staminate and pistillate flowers on same plant; spikes 3–8; lateral spikes pistillate, often with a few staminate flowers at apex, 1–5 basal, 1–2 distal spikes, 15–45 × 4–6 mm; terminal spikes staminate, usually with a few pistillate flowers at base, 10–40 × 2.5–4 mm. Pistillate scales obovate, 4–5.5 × 2–3.5 mm, rounded or emarginate, apex mucronate to awned. Staminate scales oblanceolate to obovate, 4–6 × 1.9–2.6 mm, apex obtuse and mucronate. Perigynia 4–5 × 1–1.5 mm, yellow-green, apex rounded; beak brown, 0.3–0.5 mm.

Fruiting spring. Forests; of conservation concern; 0–100 m; Ala., Fla., Ga., Miss.