Annual, 30-60 cm. Roots fibrous, yellow-brown. Stem to c. 50 cm, 1-1.5 mm diam., terete or 5-6 angled, smooth, green or yellowish-green. Sheaths two, lower to 20 mm, green or yellow, soon disintegrating, upper (inner) to 85 mm, green, later yellowish, mouth oblique, widely scarious, its central part corresponds ligule; blades to 2 mm long. Inflorescence of 1-3 sessile spikes; lowest bract to 70 mm, terete, apex acute. Spikes up to 18 x c. 8 mm, ovoid; glumes 2.8-4 mm, widely cymbiform, mid-nerve extending into short, smooth mucro, sides obscurely nerved, yellowish brown, apex rounded, margin narrowly scarious, with short fringe. Perianth bristles 5-6, equalling or slightly shorter than nut, pale brown; stamens 3; stigmas 2(-3). Nut 2-2.3 x 1.5-2.1 mm, widely obovoid, biconvex (or almost plano-convex), apex rounded, apiculate, surface shallowly transverse-rugulose, glossy, grey or blackish-brown.