This southeastern species is similar to laeve but with smaller spikelets (ca. 1.7-2.1 x 1-1.4 mm versus 2.3-3.3 x 2-2.7 mm), broadly winged branch axes (1.8-3 mm wide versus 0.6-1.3 mm), mostly shorter narrower leaves, and more decumbent habit; 2n = 40 and 60 (FNA 25). It occurs on wetter sites than laeve, especially shorelines. The outlying northern coll. from JEFF (KY) was made by C.W. Short in 1840 at Louisville.