2n = c. 60–62

Dense red tufts to ± 30 cm high. Leaves concavo-convex, tips twisted when dry, sheaths ± 3 times wider than lamina. Female spikes 3-4, very dark red, ± 5 cm × 5 mm, lowest usually distant on stiff peduncles. Glumes light brown. Utricles almost black. Stigmas 3.

Tufts dense, erect or loosely spreading, red. Culms (6)–10–25–(35) cm. × 0.5–1 mm., glab., terete or flattened; basal sheaths light brown, occ. reddish. Lvs us. slightly > culms, 0.5–2 mm. wide, pink or greenish red, lamina narrow-linear, concavo-convex, grooved on the back, two conspicuous nerves on the upper surface, margins scabrid, tips acute, curled and twisted when dry; sheaths very wide, c. three times width of lamina. Spikes 3–6, dark red-brown, ± approximate but the lowest us. more distant on stiff, erect peduncles; terminal spike male; remaining spikes female, occ. with a few male fls above, 1–3 cm. × 3–6 mm. Glumes < or occ. > utricles, very pale brown, membr., margins often lacerate, tip acute or the midrib produced to a long scabrid awn. Utricles c. 2.5 × 1.5 mm., plano-convex, turgid, very dark red to almost black but paler towards the tip and base, or rarely light brown throughout, smooth or faintly nerved; beak slightly > 0.5 mm. long, orifice shallowly bifid, often finely scabrid, light brown; stipe c. 0.5 mm. long, us. cream. Stigmas 3. Nut c. 1.5 mm. long, trigonous, oblong-obovoid, dull brown.