Perennial forming dense tufts.. Leaves markedly distichous at the base, up to 13 cm. long; sheaths ± 2.5 cm. long, 4 mm. wide near the base, pale brown, tinged red when young, smooth, margins and keel ciliate below, otherwise glabrous; ligule whitish, rounded, ± 2 mm. long; lamina ± 10 cm. long, 0.5 mm. wide, smooth, ± terete; apex apiculate, symmetric.. Peduncle up to 30 cm. long, 0.5 mm. in diameter, smooth, terete; spike few-flowered, with one flower open at a time, ellipsoid when young, broader when old, ± 6 mm. long, 3 mm. in diameter, dark shining brown; outer sterile bracts broadly ovate, ± 4 mm. long, 2.2 mm. wide, inner ± 4.5 mm. long, 3 mm. wide, all concave, crustaceous, brown, apex rounded; fertile bracts similar, ± 6 mm. long, 4 mm. wide.. Lateral sepals 5 mm. long, 1 mm. wide, the keel denticulate, particularly in the lower half; corolla yellow, tube 3 mm. long, lobes broadly ovate, 4 mm. long, 3 mm. wide, apex dentate.. Stamens 3 mm. long; anther 2 mm. long; staminodes bifurcate, with bunches of long hairs.. Ovary oblong, 2 mm. long, 0.5 mm. in diameter; style trifurcate near apex; stigmas much-lobed.. Seeds ellipsoid, 0.5 mm. long, 0.3 mm. in diameter, with 12–14 longitudinal ridges.. Fig. 1/13.
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