stems erect, 2–3 ft. high, slender, branched above the middle, terete, olive-coloured, faintly tubercled; leaf-sheaths about 1/2 in. long, closely convolute, coriaceous, subulate, mucronate; male spikelets 5–9 in linear, distichous spicate cymes, 2 in. long; each spikelet 1/4– 1/2 in. long, cylindric, acute, straight or curved, with a bract-like spathe at the base; bracts ovate, mucronate; flowers ovate-lanceolate, compressed; perianth-segments rigid, oblong-lanceolate; outer lateral conduplicate, villous-keeled; inner smaller; anthers oblong, apiculate; female spikelets in an erect, spike-like cyme, about 1 in. long; each spikelet oblong, becoming pyriform; ovary obliquely ovoid; style simple; stigma bifid; capsule 1-celled by abortion. null