Culms to 70 cm × 1.5 mm, scabrous. Leaves: sheath fronts rugose, indistinctly spotted pale brown, apex convex, membranous; ligule emarginate to acute, 0–4 mm, free limb to 0.2 mm; blades 50 cm × 5 mm, shorter than flowering stem. Inflorescences spicate or somewhat capitate, 3–5 cm × 15–25 mm, with 10–15 branches, proximal not distinct; the proximal internode to 0.5 cm; bracts scalelike, the proximal setaceous, conspicuous. Scales hyaline, brown, awn 0.5–2 mm. Perigynia dull yellow-brown turning medium brown, red-brown distally, (3–)5–7-veined abaxially, (0–)3–5-veined adaxially, body elliptic to ovate, 2.8–4 × 1.5–2 mm, base obtuse to rounded, usually with well-developed spongy tissue; beak 1–1.5 mm, 1/3–1/2 length of perigynium. Achenes red-brown, ovate, 1.5–1.7 × 1.5–1.8 mm, glossy.
