2n = c. 70

2n = c. 70 (69–70)

Large harshly scabrid tussocks on tall trunk-like bases. Stems and leaves drooping. Spikes light brown, sessile male flowers at top. Utricles dark brown, smooth, shining. Stigmas 2.

Stems to 1 m high. Leaves to 7 mm wide. Inflorescence a loose drooping panicle to 45 cm long with many long slender branches.

Tussocks often forming trunk-like bases up to 1 m. × 50 cm., of matted rhizomes, roots and old culm-bases. Culms drooping, trigonous, grooved, harshly scabrid; basal sheaths brown. Lvs = or > culms, drooping, channelled, margins and keel harshly scabrid. Glumes very slightly < utricles, ovate, acuminate, membr., pale brown with a pale straw-coloured midrib and very broad hyaline margins. Utricle 2.5–3 × c. 1.5 mm., plano-convex or unequally biconvex, ovoid, turgid, dark brown, smooth or with faint nerves, shining; beak bifid, 0.5–1 mm. long with winged scabrid margins; stipe c. 0.1 mm. long. Stigmas 2. Nut c. 1.5 mm. long, biconvex, obovoid, light brown.

Culms 25–100 cm. × 1–2 mm. Lvs 1.5–7 mm. wide. Infl. a loosely branched, drooping panicle up to 45 cm. long, with pale brown spikes mostly clustered towards the end of the slender branchlets.