2n = 20

Rhizome c. 1 mm. diam., often much elongated, covered with red or pale brown, membr., imbricate bracts. Culms (15)–30–80–(110) cm. × c. 0.5 mm., tufted, wiry, shining, light green. Basal lvs reduced to red, mucronate, sheathing bracts; the uppermost up to 15 cm. long, with a very slender mucro-like lamina, up to 5 mm. long. Panicle 1.5–3 cm. long, of 3–7, us. stalked spikelets; subtending bracts with a long lamina > spikelets. Spikelets c. 5 mm. long, narrow, dark brown or reddish, 2–(1)-fld. Glumes distichous, lanceolate, acuminate, with white membr. margins, the upper 1–2 pubescent towards the tip, the others glab., the lower 3–4 and the upper 1–2 empty. Hypog. bristles 0. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut c. 1.5 × 1 mm., ellipsoid or oblong-ovoid, light brown with 3 white ribs, surface smooth, crowned by a pubescent, persistent style-base, as long as the nut but much narrower throughout.