Annual. Stems tufted, rigidulous, triquetrous, smooth, up to 75 cm by 1-3 mm. Leaves flat, gradually acuminate, scabrid on the margins and nerves, (2-)3-4(-5) mm wide; basal sheaths brownish. Inflorescence consisting of several very dense glomerules, contracted into a subtriangular-ovoid to subglobose, lobed head, 1½-3 cm across. Involucral bracts several, patent, much overtopping the inflorescence, with reddish brown dilated base, the longest up to 40 cm. Spikelets often incurved and contorted, lanceolate, strongly compressed, 6-12-flowered, 4-8 by 1½-2(-3) mm; rachilla straight, wingless, persistent; internodes c. ½ mm. Glumes pellucid-membranous, oblong, with smooth keel, distinctly 7-9-nerved, ½-⅔ imbricate, with pale stramineous sides and green nerves, the body 2-2¼ by 1 mm, the mucros of the lower glumes c. 1/5 mm, those of the upper ones 3/5-4/5 mm, slightly excurved, smooth or sparsely setulose at the top. Stamens 3; anthers oblong, the cells c. ⅓ mm, the appendage of the connective c. 1/10 mm. Style up to 1 by c. 1/10 mm, epapillose; stigmas (2-)3. Nut oblong, nearly always biconvex, strongly dorsoventrally compressed, pale brown, c. 1-1½ mm long, ½ mm wide, ¼ mm thick.
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