2n = c. 60

Robust tufts with leaves much > stems. Inflorescence of 5-10, often compound, ± approximate light brown spikes. Female spikes to 5.5 cm × 5-7 mm, occasionally with a few male flowers at base. Stigmas 3. K.

Robust tufts. Culms up to 45 cm. tall, c. 2 mm. diam., triquetrous, very slightly scabrid just below infl.; basal sheaths light brown. Lvs much > culms, 7–10 mm. wide, double-folded, margins scabrid. Infl. of 5–10 often compound spikes. Spikes 2–5.5 cm. × 5–7 mm., approximate, or the lower ones more distant, erect on stiff peduncles; the terminal spike wholly or partly male, or completely female; remaining spikes female, occ. with a few male fls at the base; lower subtending bracts lf-like, much > infl. Glumes (excluding awn) < utricles, ovate-oblong, emarginate or acute, margins fimbriate towards the tip, light brown or with minute dark brown flecks, membr., awns up to 3 mm. long, pale green to straw-coloured, scabrid. Utricles 3–4 × c. 1.5 mm., trigonous, ellipsoid or ± ovoid, distinctly nerved, membr., grey-brown with red-brown flecks; beak 1–2 mm. long, deeply and acutely bifid, orifice and margins of beak and of upper part of utricle us. scabrid. Stigmas 3. Nut c. 2 mm. long, trigonous, oblong-obovoid, dark brown.