Dense grass-like tussocks; rhizome thick, short, with dark brown scales soon becoming fibrous. Stems (15) -20-60- (150) cm high, slender and wiry, 3-angled, scabrid on angles. Leaves 2-3 mm wide, < stems, flat to channelled, rather harshly scabrid, sheaths dull, light creamy-brown. Inflorescence 5-12 cm long, often with 1-2 very short branches at base; spikes ± 10, sessile, light green, distant below, 3-5 uppermost more crowded; bracts filiform. Spikes few-flowered, androgynous, male flowers at top. Glumes much < utricles, ovate, acuminate, colourless-hyaline with a green midrib. Utricles 4-5 × ± 2 mm, ovate, plano-convex, nerveless, light brown, tapering to a short bifid beak with scabrid margins, stipe minute. Stigmas 2. Nut obovoid, biconvex.