Pycreus nigricans C.B.Clarke

Perennial herb, tufted, up to 0.6 m high, old leaf sheaths persisting as soft brown to black fibres at base of plant. Leaf blades shorter than culm, ± 0.8 mm in diam., semi-terete (± C-shaped. Culm scapose, 3-angled, 0.8-1.0 mm in diam. Inflorescence head-like, of 2-8 sessile or subsessile spikelets. Subtending bracts 3, lowest longer than inflorescence, erect to suberect, leaf-like (wiry. Spikelets ± compressed, of variable length in same inflorescence, ovate-lanceolate, 8-16 x 4-5 mm. Glumes imbricate, lanceolate, 4-5 mm long, keel non-excurrent. Flowering time Sept., Feb. Nutlet broadly obovate, incl. beak 1.3-1.8 x 1 mm, biconvex, dark reddish brown to ± black, surface minutely reticulate.