Herbs, perennial, usually cespitose, 30--80(--100) cm, base deeply set. Stems compact. Leaves erect or ascending, 20--50 cm; sheath base chestnut brown; blade green, narrowly linear, twisted, 2--5 mm wide, compressed but fleshy, margins minutely tuberculate. Inflorescences: scape sheaths much exceeded by leaves; scapes linear, wiry, flexuous, nearly terete, 1.2--1.5 mm wide, distally 1-ribbed, rib smooth or somewhat scabrous; spikes ellipsoid to lanceoloid or cylindric, 10--30 mm, apex acute; fertile bracts 5--10(--13) mm, margins entire or erose, apex rounded. Flowers: lateral sepals conspicuously exserted, tan to reddish brown, nearly straight, 13--15 mm (including long hairs), keel firm, apex long-fimbriate, fimbriae red; petals unfolding in afternoon, blade obovate, 8--10 mm; staminodes bearded. Seeds translucent, cylindro-fusiform, 0.8--1 mm, with flat, longitudinal ribs. 2n = 18.
