Tufted perennial, 20-40 cm. Rhizome robust, ascending, covered by brown remains of leaf bases. Stem obtusely to acutely trigonous, smooth or scabrous along edges. Leaves equalling or overtopping stem in length; sheaths 20-40 mm, grey-brown, disintegrating into fibres; ligule 0.2-0.3 mm; blades 1-2.5 mm wide, flat, long-attenuate, grey-green, upper side and margins scabrous. Inflorescence of 1 male and 1-2 female spikes below. Bracts as long as their spikes, lowest with sheath to 25 mm. Male spikes 15-30 mm, cylindrical to narrowly ellipsoid, pale to dark brown; male glumes 4-5 mm, apex rounded to truncate, with barbed arista, margins mostly scarious. Female spikes 10-20 mm, cylindrical, erect, peduncle to 20 mm; female glumes 5-6 x c. 2.5 mm, truncate, pale to reddish brown, margins widely scarious, arista 1-1.5 mm, barbed; utricles 3-4.3 x c. 1.5 mm, obovoid, grey-green to brownish, hispid, base contracted to conspicuous, soft stipe, beak c. 0.3 mm, cylindrical, emarginate, hispid, often bright red. Stigmas 3. Nut c. 2.5 x 1.5 mm, including c. 0.2 mm style base and 0.5 mm stipe, obovoid, triangular, tightly filling utricle, yellow-green to light brown.

Fl. Per.: April-August.

Type: India, Uttar Pradesh, "Mussoorie & neighbouring mountains", Royle 146 (K!).

In woods, e.g. under Quercus baloot or Cedrus deodara, on dry, stony ground; Distribution: From Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir to India (Uttar Pradesh).

According to the information on the label the type specimen, Royle 146, was collected in "Mussoorie", i.e. in Uttar Pradesh. Koyama (in Hara & al., Enum. Flow. Pl. Nepal 1: 96-120, 1978) does not list this species. Report from China (Kükenthal 1909) needs confirmation.