Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted, ca. 2 cm tall, trigonous, smooth. Leaves longer or shorter than culm, blades needlelike, less than ca. 1 mm wide. Involucral bracts glumelike, broadly obovate, sheathless, awned at apex. Inflorescence capitate, broadly elliptic or ovate, 6-8 mm; spikes 2 or 3, androgynous, elliptic, 5-6 mm. Female glumes pale brown, lanceolate, ca. 4.5 mm, membranous, 1-veined. Utricles subequaling glume, lanceolate, membranous, base cuneate, apex gradually attenuate into a slightly scabrous beak, orifice 2-toothed. Nutlets broadly oblong, compressed trigonous, ca. 2 mm, base shortly stipitate; stigmas 2. Fl. and fr. Aug.