Rather stiff tufts to 40 cm high; rhizomes far-extending. Spikes 4-7, distinctly but shortly pedunculate, ± approximate, ± 3.5 cm × 5 mm. Glumes dark red-brown with yellow-green midrib rarely produced to a very short awn. Utricles yellow-brown to dark brown; beak < 0.5 mm long. Stigmas 2.

Rhizomatous; tufts ± distant, rather stiff, bright green. Rhizome 2–4 mm. diam., occ. long-creeping. Culms (4)–10–40–(50) cm. × (0.5)–1–1.5 mm., trigonous, margins faintly scabrid, especially towards infl.; basal sheaths grey-brown or reddish brown. Lvs ∞, = or > culms, 2–4 mm. wide, double-folded, ± erect, rather rigid, margins closely scabrid. Spikes 4–7, all, or at least the lowest, distinctly pedunculate; terminal 1–(2) spikes male, dark brown or occ. very light brown, the rest female, 1.5–3.5 cm. × 3–5 mm., us. dark brown, occ. branched at base. Glumes ± = utricles, ovate-lanceolate, subacute, truncate, almost emarginate, coriac., dark red-brown, almost black, midrib narrow, light yellow-green, extending to the tip or produced beyond to a scarcely scabrid awn us. < 1 mm., but up to 2.5 mm. long. Utricle 2.5–3.5 × c. 1.5 mm., plano-convex, ovoid to ovoid-ellipsoid, rather compressed, light yellow-brown to dark brown, with us. 2–5 distinct nerves on each face, occ. more in larger plants, margins glab.; tapering gradually above to a beak slightly < 0.5 mm. long, orifice entire or minutely bidentate; stipe < 0.5 mm. long. Stigmas 2. Nut 1.5–2 mm. long, plano-convex, oblong, light brown.