Glabrous. Stems 7, densely tufted, 2 ft. high, very slender, thickened at the base by long dusky withered leaf-sheaths; a thick mass of roots, but no stolon present. Leaves 2/3 the length of the stem, 1/20 in. broad. Umbel simple; rays 3–5, up to 1–1 1/2 in. long; bracts 3–4, similar to the leaves, lowest up to 8 in. long. Spikes of 5–17 spikelets. Spikelets 3/5 by 1/16 in., compressed, a fine red, 20–40-flowered; rhachilla quadrangular, wings narrow oblong. Glumes densely packed, ovate, obtuse, 5-nerved, 1-coloured, i.e. red, hardly greenish on the keel, regularly deciduous from the lowest upwards Stamens 3; anthers linear-oblong, muticous. Style rather shorter than the nut; branches 3, long. Nut 1/2 the length of the glume, obovoid, trigonous, smooth, brown.
