Perennial herb, 0.17-0.76 m high, long-rhizomatous. Leaf blades 8-12 mm wide, flat, with 2 lateral, white, ± prominent nerves. Culm scapose, 3-angled, 1.2(-1.8) mm in diam. Inflorescence a compound anthela, of 8-24 slenderly stalked, digitate clusters of 1-several spikelets. Subtending bracts ± 8, broad, leaf-like, often with longitudinal white stripes on upper surface marking position of veins. Spikelets compressed, 4-8 (-20) x 1.5-1.8 mm, 8-24-flowered. Glumes not imbricate, lanceolate, 1.8-2.0 mm long, keel hardly excurrent. Flowering time (Aug.) Nov.-Mar. Nutlet elliptical, 1.5 mm long, 3-angled, brown, surface minutely reticulate.
Perennial herb, up to 300 mm tall. Leaves broad, 7-10 mm wide, grass-like, 3-nerved, flat. Solitary spikelets frequent in compound umbel. Glume margin sparsely fringed with short hairs, greenish brown.
Tufted perennial, 20-50 cm. Spikelets pale brown.