Turf-forming herb, us. in extensive patches on peat which it helps to produce. Stem c. 1 mm. diam., traceable down into peat sts for many cm., us. closely branched and interwoven, giving off stout roots to within a few nodes of stem-apex. Lvs c. 10–20 mm. long, erect, almost fleshy; sheath membr., clad abaxially in long pale scales, narrowing abruptly into subulate lamina; lamina terete or shallowly channelled near base, flattened laterally at obtuse tip, adaxial surface indicated by narrow strip of caducous scales, otherwise almost glab. except for pencil of short apical scales that become brown-centred with age; no nerves visible. Infl. erect, ± = lvs, panicle represented by only 1–3 fls; spathe us. single, ± foliaceous, laterally flattened towards tip, its cup-shaped sheath enclosing basal fl. Fls with few scales; per. divided to base; tepals 3–5–6 mm. long, spreading in ♂, ± erect in ♀. Ovary very narrow-ovoid, 1-locular; ovules ∞. Fr. (7)–10–13–(23) × 3–5 mm.; pericarp succulent, orange, reddish towards narrow tip. Seeds c. 1.2 × 1 mm., shining black, rounded pyriform; funicle hardened into small beak.