Distribution: Canada to South America

Synonym: Scirpus americanus Persoon

Habitat: Usually brackish, but also inland

Recognition:  Stem triangular and smooth (vs. Bolboschoenus).  Notch in scales < 0.5 mm; awns mostly < 0.6 mm; distal leaf blade usually shorter than the sheath; culms strongly triangular, the sides often deeply sulcate; bracts without blades (resembling scales).  Spikelets sessile.

The other species with a smooth triangular stem, S. pungens, has a notch in the scales > 0.5 mm; awns mostly > 0.5 mm; distal leaf blade usually longer than the sheath.