Perennial herb. Culms erect, trigonous, ± smooth or scabrous below the inflorescence, 1-noded, yellow-green, 30–70 cm high, c. 2.5 mm in diam. Leaf-sheaths compressed laterally, pink-or yellow-brown becoming black-brown at maturity, shiny, remaining intact; ligule a narrow, shiny, brown–black chartaceous band; leaf-blades 20–55 cm long, channelled, scabrous and tetragonous or nearly flat near the apex. Inflorescence large, ± compressed due to surrounding broad bases of bracts, 1.5–3 cm diam. Involucral bracts: 2 or 3 more than three times as long as the inflorescence, 10–30 cm long; with several to numerous bracts within the inflorescence to twice as long as it; the bases of the outer bracts very broadened, scabrous, brown turning black with age. Spikelets c. 10 mm long; glumes c. 6, with an erect awn. Anthers 2.5–3.0 mm long, with an apical appendage c. I mm long. Nutlet 5.0–6.0 mm long, 2.5–3.0 mm diam., yellowish with brown-black spots on upper portion, ovate-oblong; gynophore yellowish, occasionally with brown-black spots, with a very narrow disc.
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