2n = c. 40–44

Very variable, forming a matted sward, 10-30 cm (or more) high, soft, grass-like, bright green; rhizome far-extending. Inflorescence a green ovate head ± 1 cm long. Spikes approximate, sessile, male flowers at base Stigmas 2.

Rhizomatous; very variable in size, flaccid, bright green, forming a matted sward. Rhizome long-creeping, to 2 mm. diam., covered by closely appressed brown scales or their fibrous remains; shoots ± distant, singly from the rhizome, c. 1 mm. diam. at base including basal sheaths. Culms (2)–8–30–(45) cm. × c. 0.5–1 mm., weak, smooth, green, obtusely trigonous; basal sheaths pale brown almost cream. Lvs < mature culms, 0.5–1.5 mm. wide, channelled to flat, soft, grasslike, margins us. smooth or very minutely scabrid towards tip. Infl. a pale green or bright green ovate head, c. 1 cm. long, of 2–5 closely packed ± sessile spikes, or occ. 1–2 spikes distant from the rest; bracts subtending infl. and lower spikes green and lfy, much longer than infl. Spikes androgynous, 4–8 mm. long, male fls 1–3 at base of spikes, occ. 0. Glumes < utricles, ovate, acuminate, white or pale brown, with a green, faintly scabrid keel. Utricles 3–3.5 × c. 1.5 mm., plano-convex, ovoid, elliptical, distinctly nerved on convex face, light greenish brown; narrowed to a scabrid beak c. 1 mm. long; stipe slightly > 0.5 mm. long, pale cream. Stigmas 2. Nut c. 1.5 mm. long, plano-convex, broadly oblong, shortly stipitate, light to dark brown.