Distribution:  Widespread in North America

Habitat: Varied wet sunny habitats

Recognition:  Small grassy species.  Leaf blades with no ligule. Style 3-forked (unique in our species).   Resembles Rhynchospora rariflora, but the Fimbristylis has symmetrical cymose branching with a well defined central spikelet and lateral spikelets on equal-length pedicels, the spikelets cylindric or lance-cylindric and > 5 mm long vs. elliptic-ovate and < 5 mm)