2n = 18

n = 9

n = 9

HERBA usque ad 40 cm alta plerumque rhizomatibus congestis, caulibus brevissimis et foliis gramineis longissimis tenuibus; aliter rhizomata minus congesta, caules usque ad 40 cm longi paene ramosi. FOLIA atroviridia fere filiformia, 50-300 cm longa et circ. 0.3-0.4 mm lata, (1)-1.2-(1.6) plo latiora quam crassiora, obtusa prope apicem saepe minute denticulata, uninervata; vagina angustata biaurita, (9)-25-35-(48) mm longa. PEDUNCULI usque ad 50 cm longi, raro rubri, plerumque infra inferiorem florem conspicue tumidi, post anthesin in multas (6-55) spiras torti. FLORES proterandri; thecae oblongae; pistilli multi, 2-16, plerumque 8. FRUCTUS asymmetricus, (1.7)—2— (2.7) mm longi, brunneus; mesocarpium tenue; endocarpium laeve atrum aliquantum tenue, duabus rimis longitudinalibus praeditum, rostro breve 0.2-0.3 mm longo productum; podogynia gracilia. Chromosome Number: n = 9.

Rhizome either much branched and congested giving rise to short stems and long lvs in dense grass-like mats or less closely branched with longer, sparsely branched stems. Lvs c. 5–30 cm. × 0.3–0.4 mm., dark green, almost filiform and only slightly flattened; apex obtuse, often most minutely denticulate; sheath (1)–2.5–3.5–5 cm. long, auricles narrow. Peduncles to 50 cm. long, us. conspicuously thicker just below fls, becoming spirally coiled as fr. matures. Fls protandrous; carpels us. 8, occ. to 16, rarely < 5. Podogynes slender. Achenes (1.7)–2–(2.7) mm. long, asymmetric, brown; mesocarp thin; endocarp smooth, black, with 2 longitudinal slits opp. to and about on level of top of operculum; beak 0.2–0.3 mm. long. 2n = 18.