Leaves subcoriaceous, broadly linear, with the midnerve prominent beneath and 2 of the lateral nerves prominent above, densely serrulate-scabrous throughout the margins and on the upper part of the midnerve on the lower surface, pale glaucous, slightly narrowed towards the conduplicate base, rather suddenly narrowed upwards into a 7-14 cm long, triquetrous, very scabrous tail, 50-150(−180) by (2-)3½-5 cm; sheaths stramineous to light brown. Scapes lateral, from the caudex below the leaves, obtusely trigonous to almost terete, smooth, usually very short (2-4 cm), rarely up to 10 cm, 2-3 mm thick, clothed with ovate-oblong, acute, concave, striate scales usually almost to the top. Inflorescence consisting of a single spikelet or composed of 2-5 fasciculately arranged spikelets (both types often occurring on the same plant). Spikelets ovate or lanceolate in outline, terete, acute, 2-3 by 1-2½ cm. Lower sterile glumes coriaceous, oblong-elliptic, obtuse or lacerate at the top, many-nerved, brown with scarious margins, c. 1½ cm long, the upper fertile ones chartaceous, less nerved. Flowers (11-)15(-17) mm long; keel of the outermost scales distinctly winged, the wing c. ½ mm wide, brown, ciliate at the top. Anthers linear, c. 6 mm. Style 3-cleft. Nut ovoid, indistinctly 3-ribbed, slightly rugulose, greyish brown, shortly stipitate (stipe c. 1 mm), 6-7 by 2½-3½ mm (the recurved beak included).
In damp primary forests, along streams, at low and medium altitudes, up to 1500 m.
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