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Herbs, perennial, cespitose, rhizomatous. Culms trigonous, 30–150 cm × 1–5(–8) mm. Leaves bladeless. Inflorescences: heads digitate, 15–30(–36) mm diam.; rays (14–)20–22, (2–)5–12(–20) cm; 2d order rays 0.3–3(–4) cm; 3d order rays sometimes present, 0.3–2.5 cm; bracts (4–)18–22, ± horizontal, flat, 15–27 cm × (1.5–)8–12 mm. Spikelets 8–20, ovoid to linear-lanceoloid, compressed, 5–25 × 1.5–2 mm; floral scales 8–28, laterally whitish or light brown, ± hyaline, medially light brown, laterally ribless, medially 3-ribbed, 2-keeled in proximal 30–60%, deltate-ovate, 1.6–2.4 × (1–)1.2–1.5(–1.7) mm, apex acute. Flowers: stamens 3; anthers 0.7–1 mm; styles 0.5–1 mm; stigmas 0.6–1 mm. Achenes brown, sessile or stipitate, broadly ellipsoid, 0.6–0.8 × 0.4–0.6 mm, stipe if present to 0.1 mm, apex obtuse, apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.
Rhizome short, stout. Stems to 60 cm high, stout, subterete. Leaves reduced to closely appressed, very pale brown basal sheaths. Involucral bracts many, ± equal, to 25 cm × 10 mm, > inflorescence, tips shortly acuminate. Inflorescence a compound umbel; rays many, to 8 cm long. Spikelets in small clusters at tips of rays, ± 4 × 2 mm, ovoid to linear-oblong, compressed, shining. Glumes densely imbricate, ± 2 mm long, ovate, obtuse, hyaline, white to light brown with green keel. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut ± ⅓ length of glume, trigonous, ovoid-ellipsoid, brown.
Robust perennial, rhizome thick, woody and creeping; several culms placed in a straight row, culms rounded with longitudinal ridges, leaf blade very reduced so appearing leafless; inflorescence with numerous large involucral bracts; spikelet 2-10 mm long, compressed.
