General:
Perennial herb from short, stout, often ascending or nearly vertical rhizomes; stems clustered, more or less flattened, at least near the tops, some of them elongating, arching, then rooting from apical bulbils, (2) 40-100 cm tall.

Leaves:
Blades lacking.

Flowers:
Spikes solitary, terminal, spindle-shaped, (5) 8-13 mm long, (5) 10- to 20- (25-) flowered.

Fruits:
Scales firm, egg-shaped, blunt, or the upper sharp-pointed, with translucent margins, equalling or surpassing the achenes; perianth bristles about equalling the achenes, with sharp teeth directed backwards; stigmas 3; achenes egg-shaped, rounded and 3-angled to plano-convex, light greenish to medium brown, smooth and shining or slightly cellular roughened, 1.9-2.8 mm long including the prominent, pale, nosecone-like tubercles, which are up to 0.75 mm long and do not form distinct apical caps on the achenes.

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:
Green

Blooming Period:
Late Spring

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

Source:  The USDA

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Eleocharis rostellata var. congdonii Jeps.
Eleocharis rostellata var. occidentalis S. Watson
Scirpus rostellatus Torr.