2n = 88

Densely caespitose, dark green. Culms 40–75 cm. × 0.5–1 mm., trigonous, strongly scabrid above; basal bracts dull reddish brown. Lvs 3–6 per culm, < or = culm, 2–3 mm. wide, strongly scabrid on margins and upper surface; sheath and basal part of lamina us. reddish pink. Spike 6–10 cm. long, female fls c. 10, lax, internodes > mature utricles, 5–14 mm. long at base of spike, 2 mm. long above; spike often bracteate with lowermost glume lf-like or setose. Glumes much < utricles, persistent, coriac., obtuse or lowermost subacute, green with paler margins. Utricles (5)–6–8 × c. 1 mm., plano-convex or biconvex, fusiform, very faintly nerved, cuneate below forming a stipe c. 1.5 mm. long and tapered above to a beak c. 2 mm. long stipe and beak green, remainder very light grey.