Densely tufted, stems tightly clumped and erect near the base, occ. drooping in the upper part. Rhizome stout, 5–10 mm. diam., horizontal. Flowering stems 1–2 m. × 2–3 mm., ∞, wiry or hard, ridged, not shining, blue-green, pith cobwebby, irregularly interrupted or rarely continuous; lvs 0; basal bracts dark red-purple to almost black below, closely sheathing the stem, the uppermost bract straw-coloured above, frequently up to 25 cm. long. Infl. apparently lateral, many-fld, very pale brown or cream, a dense, fan-shaped mass of fls evenly, though closely, spaced along ∞, stiff, erect branchlets which are pressed up against the very long subtending floral bract; bract overtopping infl. occ. up to 30 cm. long, Fls c. 2 mm. long, tepals white and membr. with a green central stripe, later straw-coloured and more rigid. Stamens 3, rarely 3–6. Capsule from slightly > 1.5 mm. to slightly > 2 mm. long, = or slightly > tepals, narrow, ovate-oblong, obtuse, very pale brown.
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Dense clumps, tight at base but with stems drooping outward in upper part of clump; rhizome short. Stems 1-2 m × 2-3 mm, wiry, dull blue-green, pith cobwebby, usually with large irregular cavities. Basal sheaths usually red-purple to black. Inflorescence (2)-5-10-(18) cm long, to c. 6 cm wide, fan-shaped with stiff slender branches pressed against stem. Flowers numerous, very small. Stamens usually 3. Capsule 1.5-2 mm long, ± = tepals, very pale brown.
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