Slender tussocky annual; stems 5–25 cm long and 0.3–0.6 mm thick, angular, densely short-hairy. Leaf-sheaths pale to light reddish brown with green central part; blades 2–6 cm long and 0.2–0.5 mm wide, flat or inrolled, densely hairy on midrib and margins. Inflorescence a lax anthela up to 2 cm wide and long consisting of one sessile spikelet and 1–4 stalked spikelets; major involucral bract 3–10 mm long, with a leaf-like upper part. Spikelets 4–7 x 2–2.5 mm, ovate to lanceolate with acute tip, angular, 10–15-flowered. Glumes 2–2.5 mm long, light to medium reddish brown but with a prominent green midrib excurrent into a short mucro, densely short-hairy. Nutlet 0.7–0.8 x 0.6–0.7 mm, obovate to almost globose, not triangular, pale to light reddish brown with c. 10 transverse undulations.