Leaves subcoriaceous, broadly linear, with the midnerve prominent beneath and 2 of the lateral nerves prominent above, septate-nodulose by numerous cross-nervules, scabrous on the margins towards base and apex and on the midnerve near the top, gradually narrowed towards the conduplicate base but not petioled, abruptly contracted at the apex into a triquetrous, aculeate-scabrous, 1-8 cm long tail, 65-120 by 2½-4½ cm. Scapes lateral, slender, subterete, striate, smooth, slightly incrassate at the top, 13-17 cm by 1 mm, the lower 4-6 cm clothed with some loose, brownish, striate scales. Inflorescence capitate, consisting of c. 6 very densely packed spikelets, simulating a single spikelet, broadly ellipsoid to globose, 9-11 mm long and wide. Bracts 3, coriaceous, erect, suborbicular, concave, many-ribbed, with scarious margins lacerate at the top. Spikelets strongly compressed, 7 mm long. Glumes thinly membranous, pellucid, narrowly oblong, obtuse, 1-nerved or indistinctly 3-nerved, purplish puncticulate at the top, c. 7 by 2 mm. Flowers 6 mm long; outermost scales ciliate in the upper half. Anthers 3 mm long. Style 3-cleft. Nut unknown.
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