Plant 20-65 cm tall. Basal leaves 1 or 2; lamina terete or compressed, often grooved in lower part, 1-1.5 mm diam. Inflorescence of 1-c. 5 dense, head-like clusters of 2-6 flowers at ends of axis and the somewhat divergent branches; bracteoles opaque and black in centre, the veins obscure abaxially, the margins narrow, inconspicuous, scarious; upper bracteole acute to obtuse, reaching ⅓-½ way up flower. Flowers 8.5-10 mm long, black or brownish black, with green ovary. Sepals more than ¾ as long as petals. Stamens slightly unequal, 1 longer or all of different length; anthers not versatile, borne c. ⅔-¾ from base of petals, 1.6-2.4 mm long. Style at anthesis reaching to c. middle of anthers.
Grows in eucalypt forest and woodland and in shrubland, open woodland and sedgeland, in a variety of sandy, clay and gravelly soils, in dry and swampy sites and shallow soil over rock.
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