Rhizome short. Stems densely tufted, slender, rigid, often slightly curved, ancipitous, smooth, several-leaved at the base, 30-50 cm by 2-3 mm. Leaves coriaceous, equitant, ensiform, usually falcate, gradually narrowed into the often ustulate tip, densely ciliate on the margins, smooth, 3-5(-7) mm wide. Panicle erect, oblong, narrow, consisting of 3-4 distant fascicles of branches, 10-15 cm long. Bracts erect, very shortly laminate, with ancipitous brownish sheaths. Branches 2-5 together, erect, exserted from the sheath, densely hispid on the edges, up to 4 cm long. Spikelets in clusters of 3-5, oblong-lanceolate, 2-3-flowered, dark purple, 6-8 by 2½-3 mm. Glumes c. 5, lanceolate, obtusish, scaberulous on keel and margins, up to 4 mm. Bristles absent. Stamens 3, filaments somewhat elongated after anthesis, up to 8 mm, not comose; anthers 3-4 mm long, connective with distinct c. ½ mm long appendage. Nut (very immature) narrowly elliptic, distinctly stipitate; persistent style-base narrowly pyramidal, hispid.
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