In loosely packed clumps, often with few stems at the centre; stems 60-120 cm × (1.5)-2-4 mm, blue- or grey-green, ridged, not shining, hard, pith interrupted, rarely continuous, frequently almost wanting; basal bracts chestnut-brown below, the uppermost very lax; inflorescence manyflowered, much-branched or condensed to a globose head greater than 1.5 cm in diameter with one or more side clusters; flowers pale green; tepals 2.2-3.0 mm long; stamens 3, 4, or variable 3-6; capsule 2.3-3 mm long, light greenish brown, with rounded top.

Loose open clumps; rhizome long. Stems 60-120 cm × (1.5) -2-4 mm dull grey-green to blue-green, ridged, pith almost lacking. Inflorescence very variable, much-branched or a compact head. Stamens usually 3. Capsule 2.3-3 mm long, ± = tepals.

Broad, loosely packed clumps, often with few stems at the centre; occ. not clump-forming and stems few. Rhizome 3–5 mm. diam., horizontal. Flowering stems 60–120 cm. × (1.5)–2–4 mm., hard, ridged, not shining, blue- or grey-green, pith interrupted, us. almost wanting, rarely continuous; lvs 0; basal bracts chestnut-brown below, the uppermost straw-coloured and very loosely sheathing. Infl. apparently lateral, many-fld, much-branched, with fls clustered at branchlet tips, or condensed to a globose head > 1.5 cm. diam. with 1 or more lateral clusters. Fls 2.2–3 mm. long; tepals pale green, later becoming light brown. Stamens 3, occ. 4, or variable 3–6. Capsule 2.3–3 mm. long, = or occ. slightly > tepals, ovoid to obovoid, obtuse, almost retuse at the tip, pale greenish brown.