Tufted perennial, reddish-tinged. Stems to 80 cm high, distinctly septate internally just below inflorescence. Leaves terete or ± compressed with ± distinct transverse septa. Inflorescence 2-5 cm long with few stiff branches and 3-5- (6) hemispherical to globose many-flowered clusters to 8 mm diam.; leaf-like subtending bract much < inflorescence but each individual flower-cluster subtended by 1-2 bracts > flowers. Tepals 3.5-4 mm long, outer > inner, very narrow, stiff, acuminate. Stamens 3. Capsules immature in only N.Z. specimen.