Small tussocky perennial with a very short rhizome; stems crowded, 3–8 cm long and 0.6–0.8 mm thick, angular to almost terete, glabrous, base slightly swollen and covered by a dense layer of old leaf-sheaths. Leaves basal; sheaths brown with a wide pale membranous margin; blades 2–6 cm long and up to 1 mm wide, flat to canaliculate but very thick and sometimes almost semiterete at base, often curved towards the apex, margin minutely scabrid. Inflorescence a sessile terminal cluster of 4–15 crowded spikelets with or without 1–2 additional stalked spikelet groups on up to 8 mm long peduncles; involucral bracts spreading, leaf-like, up to 2.5 cm long. Spikelets 6–14 x c. 1.5 mm, linear, acute, 10–20-flowered. Glumes 2.3–2.7 mm long, ovate with obtuse or subacute apex, reddish brown with a green midrib ending in apex or shortly excurrent, with 2–4 prominent lateral nerves on each side of the midrib. Stamens usually 2. Style with 3 long stigmas. Nutlet 0.8–1 x 0.4–0.5 mm (immature), brown, minutely papillose.