Japan Flora: Stems slender, ascending, branched at base, simple above, 3- to 12-grooved, the central cavity about 1/3 the diameter of the stem or much reduced or absent in small stems; sheaths green with a black border, the teeth 4-10, lanceolate to lanceolate-deltoid, persistent; spikes 5-10 mm. long.

Hokkaido; rare. Sakhalin, Kuriles to N. America, and Europe.

Russia Flora: Plant, up to 35 cm tall. Roots branching, brownish-black. Stems up to 2 mm thick, overwintering, straight, with 4-6 ribs. Leaf teeth 4-6, with a wide white border. Cone solitary, terminal, up to 5 mm long, pointed.  

All regions of the Far Eastern flora, except Dauria (in Ussuri — rare).  In tundras, in wet places in valley forests and among shrubs, on stream pebbles. General distribution: European part, Caucasus, Western and Eastern Siberia; Scandinavia, Atlantic Europe, Mongolia, North America.  Described from Switzerland.