Perennial grass-like tufts to c. 30 cm high. Leaves < stems, to 8 mm wide, channelled. Inflorescence usually a many-flowered dense globose head subtended by 1-3 longer leafy bracts. Stamens 6. Capsule c. 3 mm long, ± = tepals, ovoid, mucronate, red-brown.

Tufts of small diam. Stems 8–30–(45) cm. × 1–2 mm. Lvs ∞, all basal, grass-like, much < stems, solid, non-septate, lamina rather stiff, flattened at the base and up to 8 mm. wide, involute above and tapering considerably to the slightly dilated tip, mucronate in young lvs; sheath very broad and often pink-coloured, without auricles. Infl. terminal, contracted in most N.Z. plants into a many-fld, globose head, or occ. slightly branched; 1–3 lfy bracts at the base, at least one much > infl. Fls c. 3 mm. long; outer tepals acute or acuminate, shorter than the inner, more membr., subobtuse tepals. Stamens 6. Capsule ± = tepals, obtuse, mucronate.