A native perennial sedge forms a tuft of basal leaves and one or more culms up to 2½’ long. Each culm is stiff, 3-angled, glabrous, and unbranched; its edges are rough underneath the inflorescence. Along the lower half of each culm, there are 1-3 alternate leaves that are ascending to widely spreading. The blades of these leaves are up to 12" long and 7 mm. across; they are light to medium green, glabrous, channeled along their midribs, and rough-textured along their margins. The outer leaf sheaths are light to medium green and glabrous, while the inner sheath is membranous and truncate to slightly concave at the mouth.