Small tufted annual. Culms filiform, to 10 cm high. Leaf-blades shorter than culms, to 4 cm long. Spikelets 1–6(–12) per inflorescence, 3–7 mm long; involucral bract erect or spreading, longer than spikelets; glumes rather rigid, with stout keel, sides shining with 4–6 conspicuous nerves, straw-coloured, often with red-brown to blackish patches, 1.5–2 mm long; stamens 3; style 3-fid. Nut equally trigonous, obovoid to ellipsoid or broad-ellipsoid, angles subacute, minutely roughened or reticulate, ± shining, straw-coloured to dark brown, c. two-thirds length of glume, 0.8–1.2 mm long, 0.5–0.7 mm diam. Flowers spring.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, VVP, VRiv, RobP, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, VAlp. LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, RobP, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, VAlp. Also WA, SA, NSW, Tas. Southern Africa. Very widespread and common on light, often sandy soils in the lowlands (rare on heavier soils of Wimmera, Riverina and Volcanic Plain).
