Scirpus clementis M. E. Jones, Contr. W. Bot. 14: 21. 1912; S. yosemitanus Smiley

Plants densely cespitose; rhizomes absent. Culms grooved, terete, 2–12 cm, smooth. Leaves: basal sheaths brown; distal leaf sheaths concave at mouth; blades 3.7–13 × 0.4–0.7 mm, much shorter than culms at flowering and fruiting. Inflorescences: spikelets 2–5-flowered, 3–4 × 1.5–2.5 mm; bracts 3.5–6.7 mm, 3.5–7.7, exceeding spikelets, apex with awn, awn (0.9)1–5.3 mm. Spikelets: scales brown, apex obtuse. Flowers: perianth bristles 0–6, brown, flattened, shorter than achenes, smooth or scabrous; anthers 0.9–1 mm. Achenes sharply trigonous, 1.2–1.6 × 0.7–0.8 mm.

Fruiting summer–early fall (Jul–Sep). Wet montane to alpine meadows, stream banks; 2400–3600 m; Calif.