Leaves very densely crowded, strikingly 3-ranked, the rows prominent and fan-like at the base (almost as in M. graminea), coriaceous, linear, with the midnerve prominent beneath and 2 whitish lateral nerves somewhat prominent above, slightly narrowed towards the conduplicate base, gradually narrowed into a long, flagelliform, triquetrous, very scabrous acumen, densely serrate-scabrous throughout the margins and on the midnerve beneath in the upper part, glaucous, very shining above, dull beneath, up to 170 by 9-14 mm; sheathing bases shining dark brown to blackish. Scapes lateral, from the caudex below the leaves, stout, subterete or compressed, scabrous or (at length?) almost smooth, (2-)10-30 cm by 3-4 mm, the base clothed with stiff, acute, dark brown scales. Inflorescence usually a single spikelet, sometimes consisting of 2-3 fasciculately arranged spikelets (both types occurring on the same plant). Spikelets lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate in outline, terete, acute, 2½-5 cm by 10-15 mm. Lower glumes coriaceous, lanceolate, acutish, cas-taneous, with scarious margins, many-nerved, flower-bearing glumes lanceolate, thinner and less nerved, 12-15 mm long. Flowers about as long as the glumes; keel of outermost scales ciliate in the upper part. Anthers c. 8 mm. Style 3-cleft. Nut ellipsoid, subtrigonous, acuminate, shortly stipitate (stipe c. 1 mm), brown, 4-5 by 2½ mm.
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