Leaves subcoriaceous, the lower ones reduced to bladeless sheaths, the upper ones very variable in shape and size, lorate to broadly linear, usually with 3 prominent nerves, scabrous on margins and keel beneath towards the apex, dark green above, paler beneath, pink to purplish when young, (3-)10-90 by (½-)3-7 cm, the apex not rarely notched and suddenly to rather gradually narrowed into an up to 10 cm long aculeate tail, the base contracted into a conduplicate ribbed petiole dilated into a scariously margined inflated sheath in the lower part. Scapes solitary in the leaf-axils or below the leaves, usually rather robust, obtusely trigonous or almost terete upwards, slightly incrassate at the top, smooth, (2-)5-35 cm by (½-)1-2 mm, the base clothed with some hard, ovate-lanceolate, acute, striate scales scarious on the margins. Inflorescence normally consisting of a single terminal spikelet, sometimes with 1-2(-4) digitately arranged sessile or peduncled lateral spikelets in the axils of the lower glumes. Spikelet oblong when young, ovoid when mature, acute, (7-)15-40 by (7-)10-20 mm. Lower 4-7 glumes empty, firm, ovate or oblong-ovate, obtuse, many-nerved, with scarious margins, fuscescent, (6-)8-9 by (3½-)5-6 mm, upper ones gradually smaller and less firm, fertile. Flowers about as long as the glumes. Anthers linear, white, 3½-5 mm. Stigmas 3. Nut ellipsoid or narrowly ellipsoid, rounded at the base, shortly stipitate or almost sessile, acuminate, greyish brown to dusky black, (4-)5-7 by (2-)3 mm.
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