2n = c. 60–62

Stout, harshly scabrid, rigid tussocks to ± 80 cm high. Inflorescence an erect stiff panicle 6-25 cm long with appressed branches ± 3 cm long. Spikes numerous, sessile, red-brown, male flowers at top. Utricles many-nerved. Stigmas 2.

Rhizomatous; stout, harsh and rigid, dark green. Culms (20)–30–75–(100) cm. × 3–6.5 mm., acutely trigonous, angles strongly scabrid above; basal sheaths shining, light to dark grey-brown. Lvs us. > culms, 3–7 mm. wide, channelled, stiff, tips almost pungent in young lvs, margins and keel very scabrid. Infl. an elongated erect, stiff panicle 6–25 × 1–2 cm., interrupted below, branchlets us. < 3.5 cm. long, more crowded above, appressed to infl. axis. Spikes , 5–6 mm. long, red-brown, ovoid, androgynous, male fls terminal. Glumes slightly < utricles, ovate, acute, or with a short scabrid mucro, brown with lighter brown midrib. Utricles c. 2.5–3.5 × 1.5 mm., plano-convex, conspicuously many-nerved, dark brown; tapered to a beak 1–1.5 mm. long, margins distinctly toothed, orifice bifid; sharply constricted to a narrow stipe 2–4 mm. long. Stigmas 2. Nut c. 1.5 mm. long, plano-convex, oblong-obovoid, light or dark brown.