Japan Flora: Rhizomes short; culms somewhat tufted, erect, 20-30 cm. long, acutely angled, scabrous at tip; leaf-blades 15-2.5 mm. wide, deep green; head short, the bracts reduced to scales, the spikes 3 or 4, approxi­mate or contiguous, gynecandrous or the lateral often pistillate, oblong, 5-10 mm. long, dark brown; pistillate scales ovate- oval, shining, chestnut-brown; perigynia slightly longer than the scales, obovate, 3 mm. long, planoconvex, smooth, light castaneous, rather abruptly short-beaked, with an entire hyaline tip; stigmas 2. July-Aug. Dry alpine slopes.

Hok­kaido (Mount Daisetsu), Honshu (Kai and Shinano Prov.); rare. Korea and n. Kuriles to Arctic regions and high mountains of the N. Hemisphere.