Annual wetland herb, 1–13 cm high. Leaves ± linear, 1–13 cm long, 0.4–1 mm wide; basal sheath with fine acute auricles 0.6–2.5 mm long. Scape at fruiting erect, ascending or spreading, (0.1–) 0.9–4.5 cm long, to 0.4 mm diam. Infructescence an open spike, 0.8–5 cm long, 6–8 mm diam., or a solitary fruit; pedicels 0.1–0.2 mm long. Fruits 1–14 per infructescence, a ± subcylindric body with an abruptly conical summit and a widened truncate 6-spined base, the whole fruit 6-ridged longitudinally, (2.3–) 3–4 (–4.6) mm long, 0.9–1.35 mm diam. at midpoint of body. Carpels 3, united ventrally, all fertile; central axis absent; mature carpels each tapered apically, the body with 2 rounded dorsal longitudinal ridges extended at base into 2 ±spreading spines c. 0.6–0.8 mm long.
Grows in soakages or damp to wet soils near receding fresh water of swamps, pools, small depressions or temporary streams. Generally associated with low ground flora on open flats or in woodlands such as Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Casuarina luehmanii. Sometimes in soil pockets on rock outcrops.
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