Plant forming hard tight rigid cushion, often hemispherical, up to 8 cm. across, with many short stiff tightly-packed branches closely covered with lvs. Lvs firm, densely imbricated, incurved towards stem; sheath as long as blade but ± hidden; blade subulate, rounded on back, 2-3 mm. long, bluntly contracted into a distinct, us. long, acicular tip; neither border nor midrib evident. Peduncles short. Fls 3 mm. long; sepals 5, ± ovate, broader than lvs, with thickened midrib, ending in short acicular tip; capsule splitting barely to middle, = or > sepals when mature.

2n = c. 80, 80–82