Culms 5–35 cm. Leaves basal; proximal leaves with blades 5–6 mm wide. Inflorescences: spikes approximate, oblong to elongate, 8–25 × 3–8 mm; proximal spike separate, sometimes pendent and long-pedunculate; lateral spikes 2–4; distal spikes erect, short-pedunculate. Pistillate scales dark brown to black, ovate or lanceolate, equaling and as wide as perigynia, apex acute or mucronate. Perigynia veinless, ovate, 3-5–4 × 1.5–2 mm, papillose; beak 0.3–0.5 mm, shallowly bidentate or truncate, sparsely papillose or smooth.
