Perennial herb, up to 0.16 m high, long-rhizomatous, rhizome slender. Leaf blades ± 2 mm wide, V-shaped. Culm nodose, 3-angled, ± 1 mm in diam. Inflorescence a pseudolateral head of few spikelets, up to ± 12 mm in diam. Bracts: lowest erect, overtopping inflorescence. Spikelets ovate or elliptical, excl. awns up to 8.5 x 3.0 mm. Glumes: fertile ± lanceolate, incl. awn 4.0-4.5 mm long, keel excurrent into a straight awn up to 1.2 mm long. Perianth: outer whorl of 3 retrorsely barbed bristles; inner whorl of 3 stalked, aristate scales ± equalling nutlet length, blade margins toothed, arista retrorsely barbed. Flowering time Jan., Feb. Nutlet broadly elliptical, narrowly stalked, incl. stalk ± 2 mm long, 3-angled, pale yellow, surface trabeculate; pericarp epidermal cells transversely elongate.