A slender, loosely tufted, non-stoloniferous perennial with a short, tuberous root-stock; stem (10-) 15-20 (-30) cm tall, with cauline leaves usually exceeding it. Leaves linear, 1-1.5 mm broad, flat, acute, narrowly sheathing at base. Inflorescence of 2-few, pedicelled cymose heads, each consisting of 3-10 flowers usually. Flowers c. 3 mm long, pale whitish subsessile; perianth segments subequal, membranous-glumaceous, outer lanceolate-convex, inner ovate-lanceolate, flat, obtuse, 3-veined. Stamens 6, much exserted; filaments much longer than anthers, exceeding the perianth; anthers 1-1.5 mm long. Capsules broadly ovate, c. 2.5 mm long with beak up to 1 mm long, greyish, many seeded; seeds minute, with unequally produced ends, spotted.