Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous. Culms trigonous, (4–)30–70(–95) cm × 0.5–2.3 mm, densely scabrid or hirtellate, either proximal to apex or over distal 1/2 of culm. Leaves 3–5(–8), flat to V-shaped, 7–30(–45) cm × 1.5–3.5(–6) mm, often becoming involute in drying, usually glabrous, except for scattered prickles on keel, margins in apical 1/3, or both surfaces scabrid throughout. Inflorescences: if rays absent, spikes 1–3(–4), sessile, (occasionally so densely congested, individual spikes not discernible), or if rays present, spikes 2–5(–10), borne singly on rays; spikes densely ovoid to oblong-ovoid, (15–) 20–35(–50) × 10–30(–40) mm; rays 1–6(–16) cm, glabrous or scabrid like culm, often absent; bracts (1–)3–5(–10), ± horizontal to reflexed parallel to culm, 3–12(–36) cm × 0.4–3(–5) mm, margins, keel, often both surfaces scabrid; rachilla deciduous, essentially wingless or wings inconspicuous, clear, 0.1(–0.2) mm wide. Spikelets 25–50(–80), light brown to deep reddish brown, ellipsoid to linear, quadrangular-compressed, 4–12(–22) × 2–3(–4) mm; floral scales deciduous, (2–)3–10(–14), marginally clear, laterally brownish to clear distally, or light brown, reddish brown or deep red throughout, medially green, often also reddish striate, laterally 3(–4)-ribbed, medially 1–3-ribbed, oblong-elliptic to broadly lanceolate, (1.5–)1.8–2.4(–2.7) × (1.2–)1.4–2(–2.5) mm, apex blunt to mucronulate, often erose, mucro 0.1(–0.3) mm, medially glabrous or rarely scabridulous. Flowers: anthers 0.4–0.6 mm; styles (0.2–)0.4–0.8 mm; stigmas 0.7–1.1 mm. Achenes brown to reddish brown, stipitate, oblong-ellipsoid, 1.3–1.8(–2.2) × (0.6–)0.7–0.9(–1.1) mm, stipe 0.1–0.2 mm, apex obtuse, scarcely to distinctly apiculate, surfaces finely to distinctly papillose.
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