Culms phyllopodic, with dead leaf remains at base, 5–35 cm. Leaf blades 1–2.5 mm wide, margins sometimes involute, scabrid at tip. Inflorescences: proximal bracts 0.5-2 cm, much shorter than inflorescences; lateral spikes 6–15 × 3.5–5 mm, with 2–10 perigynia; terminal spikes 6–20 × 1–2.5 mm. Pistillate scales circular-ovate, 3–4.8 × 2.2–3.4 mm, long as and wider than perigynia, apex obtuse, sometimes mucronate. Staminate scales oblanceolate to obovate, 3.2–4.8 × 1.5–2 mm, apex acute to obtuse. Anthers 2–2.5 mm. Perigynia 2.5–4.5 × 1.6–2 mm, apex rounded; beak absent. 2n = 52.