Herbs, perennial, cespitose, 20--90(--100) cm. Stems compact. Leaves in narrow fans, 10--60 cm; sheaths smooth to papillate, base maroon; blade deep green with red or strong maroon tints, linear-tapering, flat, (2--)4--10 mm wide, smooth or papillate, margins smooth or minutely scabrous, smooth, or papillate. Inflorescences: scape sheaths much exceeded by leaves; scapes linear, distally oval to ancipital2-edged, 1.5--3 mm wide, 2--several-ribbed, ribs papillate or minutely scabrous; spikes ellipsoid to ovoid or cylindric, (10--)15--30 mm, apex blunt to acute; fertile bracts 5--7 mm, margins entire, apex slightly keeled, convex. Flowers: lateral sepals included, reddish brown, curved, 5--7 mm, keel firm, ciliate; petals unfolding in morning, blade obtriangular, 3--4 mm; staminodes bearded. Seeds mealy, cylindro-fusiform, 0.6--0.8 mm, lined longitudinally with papillae, less distinctly cross-lined. 2n = 18.
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