Annual wetland herb, 1.5–13 cm high. Leaves ± terete, decumbent to erect, 1–8 cm long, 0.2–0.5 mm diam.; basal sheath with fine acute auricles 0.4–1.5 mm long. Scape at fruiting 0.4–11 cm long, 0.3–0.95 mm diam. Infructescence an open raceme, 0.6–3.6 (–6) cm long, 2.5–17 mm diam.; pedicels (0.1–) 0.25–6.2 mm long. Fruits (1–) 4–49 per infructescence, semi-erect to spreading at right angles, with body ovoid to broadly ovoid or ellipsoid but shortly tapered distally, often ± abruptly contracted at base, with short lateral and downward pointed spurs below contraction, or spurs absent or minute blunt points, (1.3–) 1.5–3.2 mm long (excluding spurs), 0.6–1.8 mm diam. at greatest body width. Carpels 6, 3 fertile alternating with 3 sterile, united; mature fertile carpels with dorsal surface strongly rounded in T.S., sometimes with a shallow longitudinal groove and/or a low narrow ridge, readily separating; basal spurs when present 4 per carpel, 0.05–0.15 mm long, 2 directed ± laterally, 2 down-pointed and fully united by a thin membrane, often less developed than lateral spurs; central axis 3-winged, usually readily visible.
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