2n = 88

Dense, stiff tufts from a slender rhizome c. 1mm. diam. Culms 4–10–(25) cm. × c. 0.5 mm., glab.; basal bracts dark brown. Lvs 5–9 per culm, much > flowering culms but us. only slightly < fruiting culms, 1.5–2 mm. wide, dark green, rigid, involute, scabrid on margins and upper surface towards tip. Spikes (1)–2–3.5 cm. × c. 3 mm., greenish brown, female fls c. 10–20, crowded towards top of spike with internodes 1–3 mm. long, more distant in lower third of spike with internodes up to 4 mm. long. Glumes ± = or slightly > utricles, deciduous, lanceolate, acute, membr., light or dark brown, us. with a prominent green midrib and two very dark brown lateral veins, margin pale brown. Utricles 4–5 mm. long, slightly < 1 mm. diam., trigonous or subtrigonous, oblong or lanceolate, light green, nerved, occ. only faintly so on the two abaxial surfaces, slightly contracted at the base to a stipe c. 1 mm. long, beak 1–1.5 mm. long; strongly spreading when ripe.