Plant 60-150 cm tall. Basal leaves 3-9; lamina flat, 1.5-7 mm wide. Inflorescence a narrow, open panicle; branches erect; flowers solitary, well distributed; bracteoles opaque, black, the veins obscure abaxially, the margins not or scarcely differentiated; upper bracteole acute or narrowly obtuse, reaching to base of ovary or to ¼ of flower. Flowers 9-12 mm long, black or brownish black. Sepals ¾ to c. equal to petals. Stamens equal; anthers versatile, borne at or slightly below middle of petals, 2.7-3 mm long. Style at anthesis reaching to middle or upper part of anthers.