Perennial, erect or nodding. 29-108 cm high, in large clumps; rhizome horizontal, frequently vertical ligneous; internodes, 0.7-3.2 x 0.3-0.6 cm clothed by many-nerved, blackish, persistent sheaths: leaves limited to sheaths; sheaths 6.5-24.5 x 0.3-2.5 cm. glabrous, many-nerved, nerves converging at apex, margin of mouth scanous; blades generally absent; culms triquetrous or terete, generally trigonous, glabrous; inflorescence-bud broadly ovoid to elliptic up to 2.5 cm long; involucral bracts 3-5 in number, 1-2 barren, not exceeding inflorescence; inflorescence 4.5-15 x 4-12.6 cm; rays 42-73 in number, racemose up to 8.3 cm long, forming obtuse angle with culm apex, sheathed at base by tubular prophylls, 0.8 cm long; capillary rays common; ray receptacle ovoid, with 1-2 filiform projections; spikelets, 12-75 on each ray. 5-13 x 0.5-1.5 mm, generally flat, elliptic or narrowly ovate, yellow green or yellow brown, darkening on drying and age; rhachilla straight, pale yellow; glumes lowermost 1-3 sterile, remainder fertile, 1.4-1.9 x 0.3-0.5 mm; broadly ovate, base truncate, glabrous, cream, margin scarious, keel three-nerved, central nerve excurrent into minute mucron; stamens 3; anthers 0.9 x 0.2 mm, yellow brown, crested; filament as long as anther, yellow with small brown markings; style 0.7 mm long, yellow brown; style branches 3, 0.9 mm long, black brown, papillate: achene mature 0.5 x 0.2 mm. obovate with concave sides, stipitate; outermost cells quadrate, with markedly sinuous margins.
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