Plants dioec., rarely monoec. Spikelets distant towards the ends of the branches, at each node solitary and sessile, or in pairs with one sessile, the other shortly stalked. Male spikelets 1–6-fld (in the N.Z. sp.), female spikelets 1-fld; upper floral bracts imbricate; bractlets wanting. ♂ with 6 narrow, glume-like tepals; stamens 3, anthers 1-celled. ♀ with 6–(4) hyaline tepals; staminodia 3 or 0; styles 3 or 2, free, or connate at the base; ovary 1-locular with a single, pend. ovule. Fr. a small, ovoid or obovoid, ind. nut. Perennial herbs. Culms glab., much-branched, often flexuose, from a creeping rhizome. Lvs reduced to persistent, bract-like sheaths. Genus of 3 spp. 2 endemic to Australia, and C. minor occurs in both Australia and N.Z. Type sp.: C. elongata Labill., a Tasmanian endemic.