Stems leafless, or with 1–3 leaves towards base, 10–80 cm, variously glandular-hairy or only glandular below inflorescence, glands uniformly 4–6 times longer than wide. Leaf blades to 50 cm × 8 mm. Inflorescences forming globose or cylindric-ovoid, spikelike heads, 3–45-flowered, sometimes interrupted or open, 1–8 cm, glandular-pubescent; bracts subtending pedicel in cluster; bracteoles shallowly and symmetrically 3-lobed to cleft from proximal 1/3 to base, lobes rounded to acute, often markedly unequal. Flowers usually borne in clusters of 3, proximal sometimes remote; perianth white or yellowish; tepals 3–7 mm, inner series somewhat longer and narrower; stamens 3–6 mm; ovary ellipsoid, tapering gradually to style base; styles distinct, 0.6–3 mm; pedicel 1–12 mm. Capsules ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, 4–9 mm, clearly longer than tepals and not enclosed by them, chartaceous, easily ruptured. Seeds reddish brown, ca. 1 mm; appendages 1 or 2 with one at each end, rarely absent; coat white, inflated, reticulate.
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