A plant from 10 to 60 cm in height, with far creeping rhizomes, sometimes forming tufts, and can form large stands. Terminal spikelet 5 to 20 mm, ovoid to cylindrical.

Damp grasslands, marshes and the margins of ponds and streams.

May to July.

Perennial.

Widespread and quite frequent throughout Britain.

Frequentin Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 179 of the 617 tetrads.