Caespitose. Culms (10)–18–45–(90) cm. × 1–1.5 mm., glab., or occ. scabrid just below infl.; basal sheaths dull brown. Lvs 5–10 per culm, ± = culms, or > flowering culms, (2)–3–4–(5) mm. wide, dark green or occ. reddish green, strongly scabrid on the margins and on the adaxial surface towards the tip. Spikes (5.5)–7–20 cm. × 2–3.5 mm., us. bracteate, female fls ∞, us. c. 60–120, very closely crowded throughout almost the whole spike, internodes 0.5–1.5 mm. long. Glumes us. < but occ. slightly > utricles, deciduous, ovate, obtuse or subacute, coriac., yellowish with a green midrib or often entirely dark brown, occ. greenish pink. Utricles (4)–4.5–5 mm. long, slightly > 1 mm. diam., a plano-convex or concavo-convex, shining, with us. one prominent lateral nerve on the abaxial face and 3–4 faint nerves on the adaxial face, yellowish to dull brown, stipe 1–1.5 mm. long, beak slightly > 1 mm. long; scarcely spreading when ripe.