Rhizome woody, ascendent. Stems elongated, erect, sustained by 2-3 mm thick terete roots, densely leafy, c. 50 cm tall. Leaves coriaceous, narrowly linear, rigid, dull green, glaucescent, stramineous towards the conduplicate base, gradually narrowed into a triquetrous, very scabrous tail, up to 50 cm long, 5-7 mm wide, the upper part densely serrulate-scabrous on the margins and the prominent midnerve beneath, the lateral nerves scarcely distinct. Scapes lateral, very short, hidden in the axils of the cauline leaves, each with a solitary spikelet. Spikelets subsessile, ovoid, acute, c. 15 by 7-10 mm. Sterile glumes coriaceous, ovate, acute, many-nerved, fuscous, with scarious margins, 8-9 mm long; fertile glumes lanceolate, less firm, 9-10 mm long. Flowers linear, 8-10 mm long; scales membranous, the transversal 2 ciliolate on the keel. Anthers linear, 5-6 mm long. Style 3-fid. Nut subpyriform, narrowed into a short, slightly curved beak, shortly stipitate (stipe ½ mm), rugulose, greyish brown, 6 by 3 mm (beak included).
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