Slender perennial with swollen stem-bases covered by fibrous remains of old sheaths, often with many crowded stem-bases giving a rhizome-like structure; stems 6–40 cm long and 0.4–1 mm thick, glabrous or slightly scabrid, triangular, covered by reddish brown to blackish sheaths. Leaf-blades 2–15 cm long and 0.5–2 mm wide, flat or V-shaped, scabrid on margin and midrib; sheaths green to light reddish brown, the basal sheaths darker. Inflorescence a congested anthela with sessile spikelets only; major involucral bract leafy, 2–10 cm long and 1–1.5 mm wide, reflexed or spreading; anthela 0.7–1.5 cm in diam., consisting of 15–60 crowded spikelets. Spikelets 4–8 x 1–2.5 mm, greyish white with a light pinkish brown (cinnamon) tinge, 10–20-flowered. Glumes 1.3–1.5 mm long, lanceolate, greyish white with a cinnamon tinge; midrib indistinct; margin often incurved. Style 3-branched. Nutlet 0.6–0.8 x 0.2–0.3 mm, obovate, flattened triangular, grey to pale brown, minutely papillose.
