2n = 64–68

Harshly-scabrid tussocks on trunk-like bases. Inflorescence usually to 25 cm long with numerous stiff crowded branches ± 3 cm long. Spikes numerous, sessile, red-brown, male flowers at top. Utricles ± nerveless, dark brown, shining. Stigmas 2.

Tussocks forming trunk-like bases up to 1 m. × 50 cm. Culms (15)–40–100 cm. × 2–3 mm., triquetrous, very sharply scabrid, robust, curved over; basal sheaths grey-brown. Lvs = or < culms, 5–8 mm. wide, channelled, with strongly scabrid margins. Infl. a panicle 7–25–(40) cm. long, with stiff, crowded branchlets c. 3 cm. long, the lowermost occ. rather distant. Spikes , ± sessile, red-brown, c. 4–5-fld, male fls at the top. Glumes > utricles, ovate-lanceolate, acute or lower glumes of spike awned, brownish-hyaline, faintly nerved, with a paler brown thickened midrib. Utricles 2.5–3.5 × 1–1.5 mm., unequally biconvex, elliptic-ovoid, smooth on curved face, very faintly nerved on flatter face, light yellow-brown, later dark brown, ± shining; beak c. 1 mm. long, shortly bifid, with green, winged, strongly scabrid margins; stipe c. 0.5 mm. long. Stigmas 2. Nut slightly < 2 mm. long, biconvex, narrow-obovoid, pale grey almost white.