Perennial, 2.5-19(-22) cm. Rhizome emitting stolons c. 1 mm diam. Stem trigonous. Leaves usually shorter than stem; sheaths dark brown, becoming slightly fibrous; blades 1.7-3 mm wide, rather stiff. Inflorescence of 1 terminal male spike and 2-3 female spikes, upper sometimes androgynous, crowded or lowest remote; bracts equalling to slightly longer than inflorescence with short sheaths; male spike 5-11 mm, male glumes 3-4 x 1 mm, obovate to elliptic, acute to mucronate; female spikes 5-14 x 3-5 mm, erect, peduncles up to 10 mm, female glumes 1.9-2.8 x 0.9-1.1 mm, lancealote, acute to mucronate, sides reddish brown, margins scarious. Utricles 1.7-2.3 x 0.8-1 mm, spreading, curved, trigonous, ellipsoid or obovoid, densely hispid, yellowish brown to brown, beak 0.2-0.3 mm, ostiole truncate. Stigmas 3. Nut not seen.

Fl. Per.: May-July.

Holotype: Bhutan, Ha distr., Ha, hill opposite bazaar, 2600 m, 7.6.1988, Wood 6380 (E) isotype (K).

Damp soil and silt by streams c. 2300-3350 m; Distribution: From Kashmir to Bhutan.