Loosely tufted, 25-40 cm. Rhizome ascending, covered by grey-brown, finally fibrous scales. Stem obtusely trigonous, grey-green, smooth. Leaves c. 2/3 of stem length; sheaths 20-30 mm, yllowish brown to grey, finally slightly fibrous, margin of scarious side slightly concave; ligule c. 0.2 mm; blades 2.5-3 mm wide, keeled, flat or slightly revolute, long-attenuate, keel and margins scabrous. Inflorescence of 2-4 spikes, all androgynous, large in upper, predominantly male part, in lower part lax. Bracts shorter than their spikes, lowest with sheath to 18 mm. Spikes 10-20 mm, cylindrical or fusiform, lowest with peduncle to 80 mm. Male glumes 3.5-4.5 x 0.8-1 mm, narrowly elliptic, acute or with mucro up to 0.2 mm, margins widely scarious. Female glumes 3.7-3.8 x 1.5-1.6 mm, acute or with up to 0.3 mm mucro, margins widely scarious. Utricles 4.7-5.1 x c. 1.3 mm, obovoid, trigonous, slightly inflated, yellowish brown, abruptly contracted to beak, 1.6-2 mm, lower part setose, ostiole oblique with wide scarious margins. Stigmas 3. Nut 2.3-2.8 x 1-1.3 mm, obovoid, trigonous, yellowish, obscurely reticulate.