Origin: Native

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Perennial herbs ranging from 0.4-2.5 m; rhizome long, 2-5 mm diameter; stems 3-10 mm diameter, sides 3, deep-concave, edges sharp, faces smooth.

Generally all basal, whorled or 3-ranked; blades number 1-3, 2-8 mm wide, 3-sided toward tip, occasionally flat, smooth, or margin minute-scabrous; sheath closed, long, not splitting; ligule glabrous.

Inflorescence head-like; inflorescence bract generally erect, 1-6 cm; spikelets ovate, not flat, many-flowered, numbering 2-20, 5-15 x 3-5 mm; flower bract spiraled, 3-4 mm, tip notch 0.1-0.4 mm, awn 0.2-0.6 mm, often sparse-scabrous; perianth bristles (2)5-6(7), somewhat straight, generally brown, reflexed-barbed or hirsute; stamens generally 3; style 1, thread-like, base not enlarged, stigmas 2-3.

Generally obovate, brown, mucronate, 1.8-2.8 x 1.3-2 mm, 2- or obscure-3-sided, smooth.