Small tufts usually 4-7 cm high; rhizomes short. Leaves setaceous. Inflorescence a solitary dark brown spike ± 5 mm long, lowermost glumes bract-like. Utricles with long scabrid beak; rhachilla enclosed. Stigmas 3.

Very shortly rhizomatous. Culms (2)–4–7–(20) cm. × c. 0.5 mm., terete, smooth; basal sheaths chestnut-brown or yellow-brown. Lvs slightly < culms, c. 0.5 mm. wide, setaceous, plano-convex or canaliculate, strict, dark green, margins scabrid towards the obtuse tip. Infl. a solitary spike, c. 5 mm. long, the lowermost glumes bract-like, female fls (2)–5–6, equalling or overtopping the male fls. Glumes > or = utricles, ovate, acute, brown, midrib green. Utricles (3)–3.5–5 × c. 1 mm., lanceolate, smooth; tapering to a dark beak 1–2 mm. long, with scabrid margins and oblique orifice; stipe c. 1 mm. long. Stigmas 3. Nut c. 2 mm. long, oblong-trigonous, smooth. Rhachilla enclosed within utricle, = or slightly > nut, linear, margins scabrid, apex with a minute red appendage.