Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east across most of the U.S. to eastern Canada and the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Streambanks and other wet places in the valleys and lowlands; tolerant of alkali.

Flowers: June-August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Tufted annual, the triangular, solid, slender stems 0.5-2 dm. tall.

Leaves few, grass-like, all attached near the base, slender and elongate, 0.5-2 mm. wide, the sheaths closed.

Inflorescence of spikelets in 1-several capitate clusters, the primary cluster sessile, the others on slender rays up to 3 cm. long in the axils of sheathless, leafy, unequal involucral bracts, at least one surpassing the inflorescence; spikelets 3-15 mm. long; scales of the spikelets in 2 vertical rows, 2-2.5 mm. long, blunt, with a pale mid-rib; perianth none; stamens usually 2; style deeply bifid.

Achenes lenticular, 1.0-1.3 mm. long, olivaceous to blackish.