2n = c. 62–64

Very leafy tufts ± 60 cm high. Female spikes c. 5, lowest usually distant, to 9.5 cm × ± 7 mm, light greenish-brown. Glumes ± colourless, membranous, transparent. Stigmas 3.

Tufts very lfy. Culms 45–60–(100) cm. × 1–2.5 mm., trigonous, mostly smooth but scabrid just below infl.; basal sheaths brown. Lvs = or > culms, 5–11 mm. wide, double-folded, pale green, margins slightly scabrid. Infl. 20–45 cm. long, of c. 7 spikes, either approximate or the lowermost 1–2 distant, occ. compound, pedunculate; terminal 1–2 spikes male; remaining spikes female, occ. with male fls at the top, 2–9.5 cm. × 6–8 mm. Glumes (excluding awn) < or = utricles, ovate, acute or truncate, membr., with ∞ distinct nerves, colourless except for red-brown striae and occ. dark red-brown larger markings beside the greenish midrib; awn scabrid, up to 2 mm. long. Utricles 4.5–5 × 1.5–2 mm., subtrigonous, ellipsoid, distinctly nerved, light greenish brown, margins quite glab.; beak narrow, bifid, c. 1 mm. long, orifice slightly scabrid; stipe minute. Stigmas 3. Nut c. 2 mm. long, trigonous, oblong, dark brown.