2n = c. 58

Loose tufts to 35 cm high. Leaves < stems. Inflorescence 1.5-4 cm long, green or pale brown, of 3-5 ± distant sessile spikes, utricles widely spreading when ripe and individual spikes stellate. Male flowers at base of spikes. Stigmas 2.

Loosely tufted from an ascending rhizome; tufts ± flaccid. Culms (3.5)–6–35 cm. × c. 0.5 mm., subtrigonous, glab.; basal sheaths grey or light brown. Lvs us. < culms, 0.5–1.5 mm. wide, channelled to flat, margins scabrid, tapering towards the subacute tip. Infl. a compound spike 1.5–4 cm. long, green or pale brown, of 3–5 ± distant spikes, utricles widely spreading when ripe and individual spikes star-shaped; lowest spike us. subtended by a filiform scabrid bract c. ½ length of infl. Spikes androgynous, 3–7 mm. long, male fls at the base of each spike; plants occ. almost dioec. Glumes c. 1/2 length of utricle, membr., light brown, with a pale cream or green well-marked midrib and hyaline margins. Utricles 2.5–4 × c. 1.5 mm., plano-convex, us. distinctly nerved; contracted above to a narrow, dark brown beak with green, slightly or distinctly scabrid margins and slightly bifid orifice; puckered below to a rather indistinct stipe c. 2 mm. long. Stigmas 2. Nut slightly < 2 mm. long, ± biconvex, oblong-ovoid, pale brown.