Xyris anceps var. anceps Steud.

Perennial, perhaps sometimes annual, forming large clumps. Leaves 20-40 cm long, 4-5 mm wide, brownish or reddish when dry. Peduncles up to 1 m long, 1.5-3 mm in diameter; spike up to 15 mm long, 11 mm in diameter. Lateral sepals 5 mm long; corolla-tube ±3 mm long, the lobes oblong, ±4 mm long, 2 mm wide. Stamens 2 mm long; anthers ±1 mm. Ovary ±2 mm long, 1 mm in diameter. Capsule 4 mm long, 2 mm in diameter. Seeds 0.5 mm long, 0.4 mm in diameter.