2n = 60–66

Stiff dark green tufts to c. 60 cm high, dark red-purple at base. Female spikes c. 5, upper close-set, lower distant, drooping, to 8.5 cm × 4 mm, bright red-purple. Stigmas 3.

Tufts rather dark green, rather stiff. Culms 10–45–(60) cm. × c. 1 mm.; basal sheaths dark red-purple. Lvs c. = or somewhat > culms, 2.5–6 mm. wide, double-folded, keel and margins scabrid. Infl. of 4–6 spikes; terminal spike male, often compound, with female fls intermixed in the secondary spikes; remaining spikes female with a few male fls at the base, c. = or slightly > male spikes, 1.5–8.5 cm. × 3–4 mm., uppermost spikes close set, ± pedunculate, lowermost spikes distant and drooping on slender, almost filiform peduncles; subtending bracts lf-like, much > infl., almost = foliage lvs in width. Glumes ± = or slightly < utricles, bright red-purple, rather membr., deciduous, lanceolate, subacute or almost emarginate, midrib produced to a scabrid awn. Utricles 3–4 × c. 1 mm., triquetrous, fusiform, conspicuously ribbed with pale veins, margins smooth, pale grey below, above bright red and narrowed ± abruptly to a beak c. 1.5 mm. long with scabrid orifice; stipe c. 0.5 mm. long. Stigmas 3. Nut c. 2 mm. long, trigonous, elliptic-oblong, grey-brown.