Perennial, caespitose herb, (7-) 10-30 (-40) cm tall, shortly stoloniferous with rootstock clothed with persistent brownish sheaths. Radical leaves 2-8 cm long, 1.5-2 mm broad, ± recurved, subchannelled, sparsely hairy, acutely pointed; cauline leaves 2-4, shorter and narrower than the radical leaves. Cymes spicate, terminal compact, ovoid to ovoid-oblong, 8-15 (-20) mm long, usually nodding, brown, sometimes lobate below, stalked to subsessile. Flowers 2-2.5 (-3) mm long, crowded in glomerules, brown, perianth segments equal, lanceolate, acute to subobtuse with fine awn-like points, equalling or slightly exceeding the broadly ellipsoid capsules; seed c. 1 mm long, obovoid with a short appendage at the base.

Fl.Per.: June-July.

Type: Habitat in Lapponia Alpibus (Sweden).

Distribution: Most of Europe, C.& N.Asia, Himalayas, Pakistan, N.America. Intro¬duced elsewhere.

A grass-like plant of northern mountainous parts of our area, with little or no fodder value.