Carex aethiopica Schkuhr

Perennial herb, tufted, 0.4-1.2 m high. Leaf blades ± 800-1150 x 7-12 mm, flat, keeled, or plicate, upper surface glabrous, lower surface papillate. Culm nodose, 3-angled, 1.5-3.0 mm in diam. Inflorescence a raceme of spikes, 165-445 mm long. Bracts 1 at each node, leaf-like. Spikes 5-7, erect or suberect, the largest 300-800 x 4-8 mm, upper 1 or 2 male, lower 3-5 female. Female bracts (glumes) same length as and narrower than perigynium, ovate, 4-6 x 1.5-3.0 mm, keel excurrent into 0.5-1.8 mm long scabrid awn. Perigynium suberect, 5.5-6.5 x 1.2-4.0 mm, narrowly elliptic in cross section, slightly inflated, green, or stramineous, cartilaginous, glabrous, nervose; rostrum 1.2-1.6 mm long. Flowering time Oct., Jan., Apr. Nutlet obovate, 2.5-2.8 x 1.2-1.8 mm, 3-angled, dark brown, minutely papillose.