2n = c. 64

Rather stiff tufts to 30 cm high with almost flat leaves much > stems. Inflorescence of 3-8 yellow-green, sessile, densely crowded spikes forming a head to 3 cm long. Utricles ± inflated. Stigmas 3.

Tuffs rather stiff. Culms (5)–10–15–(30) cm. × 1–1.5 mm., smooth, trigonous, lower half us. ensheathed by lvs; basal bracts cream to dark grey, rarely reddish. Lvs much > culms, 2–3 mm. wide, double-folded but almost flat, margins and keel scabrid towards the tip with small, close-set teeth. Infl. of 3–8 yellow-green, sessile, densely crowded spikes forming a head up to 3 cm. long and up to 2.5 cm. diam., occ. all spikes androgynous, or terminal spike male, 1–2 cm. × 1.5–2 mm., lateral spikes female or androgynous, upper more often androgynous, lower more often female, 6–15 × 6–8 mm.; bracts subtending infl. lf-like, often overtopping the foliage lvs. Glumes much < utricles, oblong-ovate, obtuse, membr., white, sts tinged with brown, the centre green, with white midrib not us. excurrent. Utricles 3.5–4.5 × c. 1.5 mm., inflated or subtrigonous, ovoid, rather bright yellow-green, spreading when mature, nerves well-marked; beak 1–1.5 mm. long, very narrow, green, papillose, shortly bifid with scabrid orifice or almost entire; stipe minute or absent. Stigmas 3. Nut c. 1.5 mm. long, trigonous with thickened angles, especially near centre of nut, obovoid, light yellow-brown.