Stems clustered, rhizomatous, forming colonies, to 2 m tall, to 0.5 cm in diam., covered with persistent, fibrous leaf sheaths. Leaf sheaths with fine, black or brown fibers producing a square mesh; ligules persistent; blades split to base, divided into 2-4 segments, these with curved sides and ± pointed apices, to 20 × 3.5 cm. Inflorescences borne among leaves, branched to 2 orders; bracts tubular, sheathing; rachis to 20 cm; rachillae 2-3 cm, ± glabrous; male flowers to 4 mm; sepals united into a tubular, 3-lobed calyx; petals united into a tubular corolla with a 3-lobed, valvate apex; stamens 6, borne in 2 series; filaments not keeled adaxially; female flowers similar to but shorter than male. Fruits developing from 1 carpel, blue-green, globose, to 0.8 cm in diam., borne on a short stalk.
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