Perennial, tussocky, rhizomatous herb, 4-40 cm tall. Clums terete or triangular, covered at the bases with red to reddish leaf-sheath. Leaves as long as the stem, channeled on the upper surface, more or less rigid. Leaf-sheath 1-12 cm long. Inflorescence usually a small anthelidium of sessile spikelets or sometimes with some peduncled spikelet cluster. Involucral bracts leafy, 1-5, usually longer than inflorescence. Spikelets compressed narrow and more or less terete, many-flowered, gryish to reddish brown. Glumes boat-shaped, reddish on the outside. Stamens 3. Stigmas 3.