Tufted. Stems soft, often drooping, (6)-25-60-(90) cm high. Leaves reduced to a single basal sheath. Inflorescence a cluster of numerous narrow spikelets, often proliferous. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut trigonous, creamy.

Culms (6)–25–60–(90) cm.×(0.7)–1–3–(4) mm., in tufts, ± compressed, lax and soft, or narrower, terete and erect, lfless, bearing a single reddish basal sheath with dilated oblique orifice. Infl. an apparently lateral cluster of ∞ spikelets, often proliferous with 1–4–(10) branchlets, 2–7 cm. long, each sheathed at the base and bearing a further small head of spikelets; bract subtending infl. obtuse, < spikelets. Spikelets 2–10 × 1–2 mm., narrow-linear, cylindrical, green to light red-brown. Glumes 2–2.5 × c. 1 mm., ovate- to oblong-lanceolate, subacute to very shortly apiculate, membr., flecked with small, light red-brown striae, margins entire and keel pale brown or green, lateral nerves conspicuous. Hypog. bristles 0. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut c. 1 × 0.5 mm., c. ½ length of glume, trigonous, sides convex between the slightly thickened angles, minutely apiculate and stipitate, creamy yellow, surface minutely reticulate.