Herbs, perennial, cespitose, rhizomatous. Culms trigonous, (20-) 30-80 cm × 1-2.5 mm, glabrous or occasionally with scattered prickles on distal angles. Leaves 9-11, flat to slightly V-shaped, 25-80 cm × 3.5-10 mm. Inflorescences: spikes (1-)3-6, loosely cylindric or oblong with parallel sides, 1.5-4 cm × 10-17 mm; rays 6-12, 2-25 cm, glabrous or rarely scabridulous proximal to spikes; bracts 6-11, ascending at 45°, flat, (1-)10-20(-26) cm × 1-10 mm; rachilla deciduous, wings persistent, 0.4-0.5 mm wide. Spikelets 10-60, narrowly ellipsoid, quadrangular, 5-8 × 1.5-2 mm; floral scales persistent, (2-)3-7, appressed, clear at maturity, laterally reddish to purplish brown, medially greenish, often erose at maturity, laterally 3-5-ribbed, medially 3-ribbed, ovate-elliptic, 2.5-3.2 × 1.8-2.1 mm, apex obtuse. Flowers: anthers 0.8-1 mm; styles 0.3-0.5 mm; stigmas 2-2.5 mm. Achenes brown to reddish brown, sessile, oblong-ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, slightly dorsiventrally flattened, 1.8-2 × 0.7-0.8 mm, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces papillose to puncticulate. Fruiting summer-fall (Jun-Nov). Open woods, thickets, barrier islands; 0-1000 m; Ala., Ariz., Fla., Ga., Miss., N.Mex., N.C. The status of Cyperus pringlei from the southwestern United States requires further study.