Rhizomes short. Culms slightly tufted, 0.7-1.5 m tall, obtusely 3-angled, 7-or 8-nodose, smooth but slightly scabrous near inflorescence. Leaves cauline, shorter than inflorescence; sheath ± long; leaf blade 7-10 mm wide, abaxial midvein and margin slightly scabrous. Involucral bracts 2 or 3, leaflike, overtopping inflorescence. Inflorescence a terminal large compound anthela, with many rays; first rays to 9 cm, glabrous. Spikelets solitary, oblong-ovoid to narrowly ovoid, 5-8 × ca. 2 mm, many flowered, apex acuminate. Glumes densely arranged, oblong, ca. 2 mm, membranous, both surfaces dark grayish black, midvein pale yellow, base sometimes straw-colored, margin apically ciliate, apex rounded. Perianth bristles 6, usually 2-4 × as long as nutlet, prominently flexuose, retrorsely scabrous only near apex. Anthers ca. 1 mm, linear-oblong. Style slightly short; stigmas 3. Nutlet pale yellow, obovoid, ca. 1 mm, compressed 3-sided. Fl. and fr. Jun-Sep. 2n = 56.
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