Cushions compact, occ. 30–90 cm. across. Roots fibrous. Stems 2–8 cm. long, erect. Lvs 0.5–2 cm. long, much < 0.5 mm. wide, distichous, stiff and erect, glab., linear-setaceous, tapering to a long acicular tip; sheath almost = lamina in length, glab., shining, brown, produced at the tip into a ligule. Flowering stems > lvs, naked, terminated by 2–3 alternate glume-like, minutely papillate bracts; each bract enclosing 1 pseudanthium only, the third or uppermost bract sterile; hyaline scales 0. ♂, 2 in each pseudanthium. ♀, 2 in each pseudanthium, styles not connate; occ. 1 ovary aborts. Fr. slightly > 0.5 mm. long, oblong-ovoid, surface faintly and irregularly reticulate.