Dense rigid tufts to 7 cm high. Stems erect, ± 0.5 mm diam. Leaves much < to ± = stems, 1-3, rigid, setaceous; sheaths very pale brown, tinged red at mouth or entirely red-brown. Inflorescence apparently lateral, 1-4 spikelets; bract > spikelets, to 1.5 cm long, rigid. Spikelets 2.5-4 mm long, elliptical or ovoid, dark markings conspicuous. Glumes 1.5-2 mm long, rigid, boat-shaped, incurved, yellow with a large red-brown patch on each side towards tip, marked with deeply incised curved lines, strongly keeled, keel green towards ± excurrent tip. Hypogynous bristles 0. Stamens 3. Stigmas 3. Nut ± 1 mm long, trigonous, bright yellow to yellow-brown, occasionally with a black tip.

Annual, in dense, rigid tufts. Culms (0.5)–2–7 cm. × c. 0.5 mm., erect. Lvs 1–3, much < to almost = culms, rigid and coriac.; sheaths very pale brown, tinged red at the mouth or entirely red-brown. Infl. apparently lateral, of 1–4 spikelets; subtending bract > spikelets, up to 1.5 cm. long, rigid. Spikelets 2.5–4 × 1.5–2 mm., elliptical or ovoid, dark markings conspicuous. Glumes 1.5–2 mm. long, rigid, boat-shaped, incurved, broadly ovate, yellow with a large red-brown patch on each side towards the tip, marked with deeply incised curved lines, strongly keeled, keel green towards the ± excurrent tip, margins entire. Hypog. bristles 0. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut c. 1 mm. long, slightly > 0.5 mm. wide, elliptic-obovoid, trigonous with subacute angles, minutely apiculate, occ. with a black tip, broadly stipitate, bright yellow to yellow-brown, very minutely punctulate and appearing smooth.