Herbs, perennial, cespitose or solitary, 30--100 cm. Leaves in broad or narrow fans, (5--)10--40(--50) cm; sheath base tan, straw-colored, or pale pink; blade pale or olive green, linear-triangular, (2--)3--7(--10) mm wide, smooth or slightly papillate, margins smooth to minutely scabrous or papillate. Inflorescences: scape sheaths much exceeded by leaves; scapes linear, rarely flexuous, terete or nearly terete, 1--1.5 mm wide, distally usually 2-ribbed, sometimes with additional ribs; spikes ovoid to ellipsoid, lanceoloid, or cylindric, 10--20(--30) mm; fertile bracts 5--8 mm, margins entire, apex rounded. Flowers: lateral sepals included, dark brown, strongly curved, 4--7 mm, keel firm, ciliate, petals unfolding in morning, blade obovate, 10 mm; staminodes bearded. Seeds translucent, ovoid to ellipsoid, 0.5--0.6 mm, finely multiribbed and cross ribbed. 2n = 18.
