General:
Perennial, usually densely tufted herb from slender rhizomes, forming dense mats; stems thread-like, erect to ascending, 3-12 cm tall.

Leaves:
Sheaths pale, sometimes purplish below; blades lacking.

Flowers:
Spikes solitary, terminal, flattened, linear to egg-shaped, 2.5-7 mm long, 3- to 15-flowered.

Fruits:
Scales 1.5-2.2 mm long, egg-shaped to lanceolate, sharp-pointed or blunt, reddish-brown to brownish with translucent margins and greenish or straw-coloured midribs, the lowest one subtending a flower; perianth bristles 3 or 4, equalling or surpassing the achenes, rarely reduced or lacking; stigmas 3; achenes egg-shaped, more or less 3-angled, white to pale grey or pale yellow, longitudinally 8- to 10-ribbed, the ribs connected by strong cross-ridges, 0.7-1.1 mm long including the more or less conic-triangular tubercles.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Illustration Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Flower Colour:
White

Blooming Period:
Mid Summer

Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present from Summer to Fall

Source:  The USDA

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Eleocharis acicularis var. radicans (A. Dietr.) Britton
Eleocharis lindheimeri Svens.