L., Sp. Pl. 45.1753 Slender, glabrous perennial, mostly 50 cm to more than 1 m tall; culms mostly slender, glabrous. Leaves mostly short or reduced to sheaths, sometimes with longer basal leaves usually to 3 mm wide. Bracts subtending inflorescence 2, usually shorter than inflorescence; inflorescences usually compound with several spikelets at apex of simple or branched, umbellate rays; spikelets 5-10 (15) mm long, bearing many flowers, flattened, brownish; scales 1.2-1.7 mm long, obtuse and minutely apiculate at apex. Achenes usually white, ca 0.5 mm long, obovoid to ellipsoid, trigonous, with a rough granular surface. Croat 13241.