It is native to western North America from British Columbia and Alberta to Oregon to Wyoming.

[1] This rhizomatous perennial rush produces rounded, hollow stems up to 50 centimeters tall.

The inflorescence contains solitary or paired flowers with small reddish or brown tepals.

It occurs in high elevation habitats with long-lasting snowpack.

Other understory species occurring with the rush include grouse whortleberry (Vaccinium scoparium), Sitka valerian (Valeriana sitchensis), mountain arnica (Arnica latifolia), and menziesia (Menziesia ferruginea).