2n = 60

Large leafy tufts to 1.2 m high, red-brown at base. Female spikes c. 5, ± distant, ± pedunculate, 6-11 cm × 5-11 mm, greenish. Utricles tapering to a long beak with oblique bifid orifice. Stigmas 3.

Large lfy tufts. Culms up to 70 cm. long, 1–2.5 mm. diam., trigonous, smooth or occ. slightly scabrid below infl.; basal sheaths dark red-brown. Lvs much > culms, up to 120 cm. long, 3–12 mm. wide, double-folded, keel and margins scabrid. Infl. of 4–6–(8) spikes; terminal 1–3 spikes wholly or partly male; remaining spikes female with some male fls at the base, (2.5)–6–11 cm. × 5–11 mm., ± distant, ± pedunculate, lowest peduncles often long and slender and spikes drooping, green to grey-green. Glumes 2–5 mm. long, lanceolate, gradually tapering to a scabrid awn, membr., light brown, with a narrow green midrib. Utricles = or slightly > glumes, 4–5 × c. 1 mm., subtrigonous, lanceolate, slightly reflexed, turgid towards the base, distinctly many-nerved, greenish brown, gradually tapering to a beak 1.5–2 mm. long with an oblique, bifid, scabrid orifice. Stigmas 3. Nut 1.5–2 mm. long, trigonous, elliptic-obovoid, cream to dark brown.