In tightly packed clumps; stems varying in length from 60-200 cm, (1)—2-3 mm wide, erect, wiry, bright green, smooth, shining, pith interrupted irregularly, or occasionally continuous; basal bracts dark red-brown below, the uppermost commonly loosely sheathing; inflorescence very variable, many- or few-flowered, either open with many or few branchlets, or condensed to a head greater than 1 cm wide, often with a few side clusters; tepals 1.5-2.3 mm long, greenish brown; stamens 3; capsule 1.5-2 mm long, light brown, darker at the top.

Tightly packed clumps; rhizome short. Stems 60-200 cm × (1) -2-3 mm, wiry, bright green, smooth, shining, pith usually interrupted. Inflorescence very variable, few- to many-flowered, open and branched or a compact head. Stamens 3. Capsule 1.5-2- (2.3) mm long, usually < tepals.

Tightly packed clumps, varying in height from 60–200 cm. Rhizome c. 5 mm. diam., horizontal. Flowering stems (1)–2–3 mm. diam., erect, wiry, smooth, shining, bright green, pith interrupted irregularly or occ. continuous; lvs 0; basal bracts dark red-brown below, straw-coloured above, tightly sheathing the stem, or the uppermost often more loosely sheathing. Infl. apparently lateral, variable, many- or few-fld, either open with few to many branchlets and fls in small clusters at the tips of the branchlets, or condensed to a compact central cluster with a few pedunculate side clusters, or to a single spherical compact head wider than 1 cm. Fls 1.5–2 mm. long; tepals brownish green, later becoming brown. Stamens 3. Capsule 1.5–2–(2.3) mm. long, = or < tepals, obovoid, light brown, with a dark brown, obtuse, almost retuse, apiculate tip.