Stems densely tufted, 12 in. long, rigid, stouter than in any other Bulbostylis of this section, at the top glabrous. Leaves hardly 1/4 the length of the stem, setaceous, glabrous or minutely scabrous on the margins; sheaths without any white hairs in the throat. Umbel simple of 3–5 solitary spikelets; bracts 2–3, lowest 1/4– 1/3 in. long, rusty brown not green, narrow-lanceolate. Spikelets 1/2 by 1/8 in. and upwards, subcylindric, rusty brown. Glumes boat-shaped, ovate, hardly acute, minutely pubescent; keel paler, hardly excurrent. Nut 1/3 the length of the glume, trigonous, obovoid, truncate, pallid, smooth, obscurely waved transversely. Style longer than the nut; branches 3, long; base persistent on the nut, small, conic, black-brown.