2n = 20

2n = 20

HERBA usque ad 150 cm alta ramosissima. FOLIA anguste linearia vel fere filiformis, viridia vel olivacea, (45)-100-150-(220) mm longa et (0.2)-0.4-0.5-(0.7) mm lata, (1.2)-1.5-(2.0) plolatiora quam crassiora, apice plerumque bidentata sed nonnumquam paene truncata, saepe prope apicem minute denticulata, uninervata; vagina biaurita, (10)—15—25— (40) mm longa. PEDUNCULI usque ad 30 cm longi, saepe rubri infra inferiorem florem vix tumidi, post anthesin in multas (6-30) spiras torti. FLORES proterandri; thecae oblongae; pistilli 4 (raro 5-6 in florem superiorem). FRUCTUS gibbus 4-4.5-(5) mm longus, olivaceus raro rubri-punctatus; mesocarpium crassum; endocarpium atrum hebetatum tuberculatum crassum duabus aperturis triangularibus praeditum, rostro circ. 1.3 mm longo productum; podogynium validum basin gradatim decrescens. Chromosome Number: 2n = 20.

Rhizome relatively unimportant; stems often long, us. with abundant ± zigzag branching. Lvs (4)–10–15–(20) cm. × (0.2)–0.4–0.5–(0.7) mm., bright to olive green, almost filiform but broad-oblong in T.S.; apex bidentate, often most minutely denticulate; sheath (1)–1.5–2.5–(4) cm. long, auriculate. Peduncles to 30 cm. long, often reddish, not notably thicker below fls, becoming spirally coiled as fr. matures. Fls protandrous; carpels 4, occ. 5–6 in upper fl. Podogynes stout, tapering towards base. Achenes 4–4.5–(5) mm. long, gibbous, olive-green, sts red-punctate; mesocarp thick; endocarp tuberculate, black, with 2 triangular apertures opp. to and about on level of top of operculum; beak c. 1.3 mm. long. 2n = 20.