Plants perennial, tufted, 5--16(--25) cm tall. Rhizome creeping. Stems subterete, 0.5--0.9 mm in diam., striate. Cataphylls few. Basal leaves 1 or 2; leaf sheath auricles absent or obtuse, membranous, free portion ca. 0.5 mm; leaf blade flat, unitubular, channeled, 1--8 cm × 0.6--1 mm, margin convolute to subterete. Inflorescences terminal; head solitary, 6--15 mm in diam., 6--13-flowered; bracts 3--5, pale brown, broadly ovate to lanceolate, 1--2.5 cm; basal 1(or 2) bracts leaflike, 1.5--2.3 mm to 2 × head length. Perianth segments lanceolate, 5.2--6.5 × ca. 1.2 mm, subequal, membranous, center chestnut brown to reddish brown, margin yellowish, apex obtuse. Stamens 6; filaments 4--5 mm; anthers 2.2--2.5 mm, slightly smaller in basal flowers. Style 1.8--2.5 mm; stigmas 0.9--2.1 mm. Capsule ovoid-oblong, usually shorter than perianth, 3-septate, apex mucronate. Seeds sawdustlike; appendages 2. Fl. Jul--Aug, fr. Aug--Sep.
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