Stoloniferous, leafless herb growing on wet soil; culms 20-60 cm long, 2-3 mm thick. Spikelets solitary at apex of culms, oblong to oblong-linear, 8-25 mm long; scales greenish, stiff, striate but central keel lacking; flowers bisexual; stamens 1-3; style 2-cleft. Achenes rounded to obovate, longitudinally striate, green to brown, 1-1.5 mm long; tubercle prominent, lanceolate. Croat 13230, 13971. This was mistakenly reported by Standley (1933) as E. variegata Presl var. laxiflora (Thwaites) Ridley. Mexico to Paraguay; Cuba. In Panama, known only from tropical moist forest in the Canal Zone and Panama.