Tufted perennial. Leaves mostly basal, laterally compressed, equitant at base, 1–1.8 m long, 2–3 cm wide, smooth. Culms erect, biconvex, 1–2 m high, smooth; inflorescence bracts and bracteoles sheathing, long-pointed, diminishing in size at each branch; bracteoles fimbriate; inflorescence much branched, 10–20 cm long. Spikelets very numerous, brown, 5–6 mm long, 3–4 mm wide. Basal 2 or 3 glumes empty, acute to long-acuminate; next 2 or 3 glumes with fertile flowers, lanceolate, 4–5 mm long; terminal glume small, empty. Hypogynous bristles 3, 6 mm long. Nut narrowly ellipsoidal-trigonous, 2 mm long, brown, crowned by 'corky' base of style.
Mountain rocky slopes and summits. Cliffs and ledges, moist gullies, waterfalls (Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) 2007: 180).
Home