Very stout. Leaves subcoriaceous, lorate, drooping (the tip pointing downwards), with 3 more or less prominent nerves, scabrous on margins and keel only at the very top, dark green above, paler beneath, (30-)50-70 by 6-12 cm, the apex rather gradually narrowed into an up to 15 cm long aculeate tail, the base contracted into a conduplicate, ribbed petiole up to 60 cm long and 6-10 mm wide; leaf-sheaths broad, purplish, up to 20 cm long, the lower ones bladeless. Scapes lateral, solitary in the lower leaf-axils or below the leaves, robust, obtusely trigonous. hardly incrassate at the top, very shortly and densely rough-hairy throughout, ultimately glabrescent, rusty when dried, 10-35 cm by (2-)3-6 mm, the base clothed with some stiff, acute, up to 8 cm long, striate scales. Inflorescence capitate, consisting of 8-16 sessile spikelets, 3-6 cm across. Bracts ovate to lanceolate, acute, stiff, up to 3 cm long. Spikelets oblong, acute, 2-3 by 1 cm. Glumes narrowly oblong, with rounded apex, many-nerved, 9-11 mm long. Flowers about as long as the glumes; outermost scales ciliate on the keel near the apex only. Anthers linear, 3-5 mm. Style 3-cleft. Nut unknown.
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