Rhizome slender, long creeping. Culms 3-10 cm tall, acutely trigonous, smooth, clothed with brown sheaths at base. Leaves shorter than or subequaling culm, blades linear, 1-2 mm wide, flat, or involute on margins, stiff, apex acute. Involucral bracts glumelike. Inflorescence capitate, globose or ovate-oblong, 6-12 × 6-8 mm; spikes 3-5, androgynous, oblong, 5-6 mm, sessile. Female glumes castaneous-brown, ovate or elliptic, 3-4 mm, membranous, 1-veined, apex acute. Utricles subequaling glume, lanceolate, plano-convex, 3.5-4.5 mm, base subrounded, stipitate, faintly veined, apex gradually tapering into a slightly scabrous beak, orifice 2-toothed. Stigmas 2. Fl. and fr. Apr-Jul. 2n = 62.