2n = c. 72–76

Light green tufts to 1 m high. Leaves > stems, usually ± 5 mm wide, prominently septate-nodulose at base and on the grey, often red-tinged sheaths. Female spikes 2-4, close-set, sessile, 3-6 × ± 1cm, greenish. Glumes much < long-beaked glabrous utricles. Stigmas 3.

Light green tufts. Culms (15)–30–70 cm. × 1–2.5 mm., trigonous, smooth or faintly scabrid below infl.; basal sheaths light to dark grey, often red-tinged. Lvs > culms, to 100 cm. long, 2–5–(7) mm. wide, double-folded, cross-veinlets ± prominent, keel and margins minutely scabrid. Infl. of (2)–3–4–(5) close-set, sessile, us. erect, occ. spreading spikes, or the lowest 1–(2) rather distant and shortly pedunculate; terminal spike male; remaining spikes female, us. > and overtopping male spike, (2)–3–6 cm. × 7–12 mm., crowded at same level round base of male spike. Glumes us. much < utricles, 1–2 mm. long, narrowly ovate-lanceolate, margin of upper part fimbriate or lacerate, hyaline with a green midrib produced to a scabrid awn 1–3 mm. long, up to 6 mm. long in lowermost glumes. Utricles 4–5.5–(6) × 1–1.5 mm., plano-convex or biconvex, turgid, ovate or lanceolate, spreading when ripe, shining light green to light brown with ∞ distinct white nerves, very slightly tapered above to a beak 1.5–2 mm. long, with bifid, glab. orifice, crura c. ⅓ length of entire beak; stipe narrow, c. 0.5 mm. long. Stigmas 3. Nut c. 1.5 mm. long, triquetrous, ellipsoid, cream or light brown.