Robust perennial producing solitary stems from the end of 5–10 cm long and 1–2 mm thick stolons with 10–15 mm long prominent scales; stem 30–60 cm long and 2–5 mm thick, triangular, glabrous. Leaves usually 4–5 from the basal 10–20 cm; the sheaths grey, wide and loose; blades 15–30 cm long and 7–10 mm wide, flat, scabrid on margin and midrib. Inflorescence a 5–15 cm long and 4–15 cm wide lax anthela consisting of 1 sessile spike subtended by 2–10 stalked spikes or new groups of sessile and stalked spikes on up to 12 cm long peduncles; involucral bracts usually 3, leafy. Spikes 1–3 x 2–4 cm with 5–10 spreading spikelets. Spikelets 6–15 x 2–3 mm, linear or linear-lanceolate, spreading. Glumes 3.5–4 mm long, ovate, greyish to medium reddish brown with a pale marginal border and a green midrib excurrent into a short straight or recurved mucro; lateral nerves 3–4. Style 3-branched. Nutlet c. 1 x 0.6 mm, obovate, triangular, as young brownish, as mature dark grey to almost black, minutely papillose.
