Perennial; rhizome horizontally creeping, subterraneous or close upon the ground, covered by ovate-lanceolate, reddish-brown scales, 1-3 mm thick, the internodes very variable in length (dependent on soil-conditions). Stems approximate to distant, rigidulous, triquetrous, smooth, 3-40 cm by ½-1½ mm. Leaves usually well-developed, weak to somewhat rigid, canaliculate, scabrid on the margins in the upper part, grassgreen, 1-3 mm wide, very rarely only the upper one with a very short blade. Inflorescence capitate, usually consisting of a terminal, globose to ovoide, 5-10 mm long and wide head, at first greenish, finally stramineous to fuscous, rarely with 1-2 smaller, sessile heads at the base; rachis narrowly conical. Involucral bracts 3-4, rarely 2 or 5-6, spreading to reflexed, but the lowest often remaining erect, 3-6(-20) cm long, very rarely all erect and very short (c. 2 cm). Spikelets closely packed, spreading or obliquely erect, elliptic-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, strongly compressed, 1(-2)-flowered, (2-)3(-4) by c. 1 mm, falling off as a whole. First glume elliptic-lanceolate, ½-1 mm, 2nd ovate, 1 mm, 3rd and 4th boat-shaped, strongly compressed, mucronulate, acutely keeled, with 2-3-nerved sides and more or less spinulose, rarely smooth keel, resp. (1½-)2½(-3) mm and (2-)3(-4) mm long. Stamens 1-2(-3); anthers linear, c. 1 mm. Stigmas 2. Nut biconvex, laterally compressed, obovate or elliptic, apiculate, yellowish brown, 1-1¼(-1½) by ½-½¾ mm.
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Rhizome far-extending, with reddish-purple scales. Stems 1-30 cm high, slender, with 1-4 basal leaves. Leaves < stems, 1-2.5 mm wide, flat. Involucral bracts 2-4, leaf-like, spreading. Inflorescence a solitary sessile spike, rarely 2-3 spikes, ovoid or globose, 4-8 × 3-7 mm, greenish. Spikelets numerous, ± 3 mm long, each with 2 glumes but only 1 glume fertile, tightly clustered, much-compressed. Glumes membranous, with green keel produced to an excurrent recurved mucro, lower glume with 3 distinct nerves on each side, slightly < upper fertile glume which has 2 distinct nerves on each side. Stamen 1. Style-branches 2. Nut ± ½ length of glume, biconvex, obovoid or oblong-obovoid, light yellow-brown.
In sunny or partly shaded localities, along roads, in grassy fields, damp forest clearings, on river-banks, etc.; 0-1500 m, rarely up to 1900 m (see var. stellulatus).
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