Stiff leafy tufts to 10 cm high. Inflorescence of 1- (2) comparatively large (to 5 mm long) whitish spikelets. Stamens 1-2. Style-branches 2-3. Nut suborbicular, biconvex, grey.

Rhizomatous with lfy, often distant tufts. Rhizome c. 0.5 mm. diam. Culms (1)–2–10 cm. × c. 0.5 mm., stiff. Lvs 2–5, us. 1 at least > culm, c. 0.5 mm. wide, often slightly curved, concave- or plano-convex; lowermost lvs reduced to brown fibrillose sheaths. Infl. of 1 or rarely 2 spikelets; subtending bract much > spikelet; up to 3 cm. long. Spikelets (2)–3.5–5 × (1)–3–4 mm., ovate-elliptical to suborbicular, pale green to pale brown. Glumes 8, 1.5–2.5 mm. long, white and membr., acute, occ. with a red-brown patch on either side, or with minute dots towards the tip, keel green, often excurrent; 2 lowermost glumes frequently larger than the rest, to 3.5 mm. long, the lowest with much extended keel. Hypog. bristles 0. Stamens 1–2–(3). Style-branches 2 or 3. Nut c. 1 mm. long, slightly < 1 mm. wide, suborbicular, unequally biconvex, compressed with edges flattened, apiculate, the pearly grey surface finely reticulate and appearing smooth.