Stems very slender, subtriquetrous, smooth, (10-)40-60 cm by 1-1½ mm, with 1-2 well developed leaves in or above the middle, rarely in small specimens cauline leaves absent. Leaves about as long as the stems, herbaceous, flat, 5-8 mm wide, two lateral nerves rather prominent, margins scaberulous towards the top; basal sheaths bladeless, keeled, ferrugineous or brownish. Inflorescence simple, densely contracted, capitate or almost so, with 3-6 spikelets, 1-2 cm across. Bracts 2-3, the lowest similar to the leaves, 5-15 cm long, the upper ones much shorter. Spikelets ovoid, many-flowered, rufescent, (5-)8-10 by 5-7 mm when in fruit. Glumes thinly membranous, ovate-elliptic, obtusish, with rather broad pellucid margins, purplish lineolate, 3-3½ by 1½-1¾ mm, the inconspicuous midnerve ending somewhat below the apex. Flowers slightly shorter than the glumes, narrowly elliptic, 2½-3 by 1 mm; scales minutely ciliolate on the keel. Anthers linear, ½-¾ mm. Nut compressed, elliptic, longitudinally rugose, rufous or brown, 3-4 by 1½-2 mm (beak included), the beak obtusish, slightly longer than the nut proper.
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