2n = c. 60

Plants to 1 m high. Leaves < stems. Inflorescence of c. 10 usually compound ± distant spikes. Female spikes 6-8 cm × ± 5 mm, upper ⅓ of each spike male. Stigmas 3.

Culms up to 100 cm. × c. 1.5 mm., trigonous, smooth; basal bracts light brown. Lvs < culms, 5–10 mm. wide, double-folded, margins finely scabrid. Infl. of c. 10 compound or simple spikes, the lower ± distant on long erect peduncles; terminal spike male, remaining spikes female below, 6–8 cm. × c. 5 mm., upper third of each spike male. Glumes = or < utricles, linear-lanceolate, membr. with red-brown flecks, truncate or almost emarginate, midrib produced to a strongly scabrid awn. Utricles 4–4.5 mm. long, trigonous, elliptic-lanceolate, strongly nerved, erect or slightly recurved, membr., grey-green, margins glab.; beak slightly > 1.5 mm. long, margins glab., orifice scabrid, not oblique. Stigmas 3. Nut c. 2 mm. long, trigonous, ovoid, red-brown.