2n = 88

Densely caespitose. Leaves 4-6 per stem, equalling or longer than the culms, 1.5-2 (-3) mm wide, strongly scabrid on the margins, on the midrib and upper surfaces, sheaths brown. Culms 28-38 (-50) cm talI, 0.5mm wide, scabrid above, sheathed for about 1/3 of the length. Spikes (4-) 5-6cm long, lax-flowered, female flowers (8-) 10-13, internodes 3--4mm long below, 2mm long above, male portion 1.6-2cm long. Glumes shorter than the utricles, 4mm long, keeled, acute, brown with a hyaline margin, deciduous, the 2-3 lowermost produced into leafy bracts 8-18cm long and greatly exceeding the spikes. Utricles 5.5-6mm long, 0.8mm wide, stipe 1.5-1.8mm long, beak 1.5mm long, margins scabrid.

Herbae dense caespitosae. Folia quaterna ad sena in singulis caulibus, culmis aequalia vel longiora, 1.5-2 (-3) mm lata, scaberrima in marginibus, in centrali nervo et in foliorum superficie; vaginae brunneae. Culmi 28-38(-50)cm alti, 0.5mm lati, scabri supra, vaginati circa tertiam partem longitudinis. Spicae (4-) 5-6cm longae, floribus laxis; flores feminei (8-) 10-13; internodia 3-4mm longa infra, 2mm longa supra; pars mascula 1.6-2cm longa. Glumae utriculis breviores, 4mm longae, carinatae, acutae, brunneae, margine hyalmo, deciduae, 2-3 infimae in bracteas foliosas productae 8-18cm longas et valde spicas superantes. Utriculi 5.5-6mm longi, 0.8mm lati; stipes 1.5-1.8mm longus, rostrum 1.5mm longum, marginibus scabris.

Tussock-forming, very light green. Culms (25)–30–45–(55) cm. × 0.5 mm., slightly scabrid above; basal sheaths light brown or reddish, occ. enclosing the culm for more than half its length. Lvs 4–7 per culm, <, = or > culms, 1.5–2–(3) mm. wide, sharply scabrid on margins, slightly scabrid on upper surface towards tip. Spikes (4)–5–12–(14) cm. long, often bracteate, lowermost glumes occ. lf-like and much > spike, male portion relatively long, female fls c. 10–20, ± distant, internodes 6–12 mm. long below, 2 mm. long above. Glumes < utricles, deciduous, acute, lower 2–3 acuminate and often produced to a scabrid awn, membr., green. Utricles 5.5–9 mm. × c. 1 mm., plano-convex, narrow-oblong, light green or light brown, distinctly nerved, beak 1.5–2 mm. long, narrow, with scabrid margins and occ. a few teeth on the abaxial surface, stipe 1.5–2 mm. long, narrow.