Small, densely tufted perennial, with very slender rhizome. Culms subterete, compressed, smooth, filiform, to 15 cm high, 0.2–0.4 mm diam. Leaves filiform, about as long as culms, 0.5–1 mm diam. Inflorescence ± loose, with 6–12 female spikelets and 3 or 4 male spikelets at apex, 0.7–1.5 cm long, with male portion 2–4 mm long; female glumes deciduous, acute, whitish to pale brown, membranous, with a ± prominent keel, otherwise nerveless, 3.5–4 mm long; stamens 2; utricles trigonous, narrow-ellipsoid, 3.5–4 mm long, 0.8–1 mm diam., obliquely spreading, lateral margins narrowly ribbed, smooth, shining, yellow-brown, about as long as glume; rachilla produced far beyond mouth of utricle, strongly hooked at the top. Nut trigonous, narrow-ellipsoid, yellow-brown to grey-brown, glistening, minutely pustulate, 2–2.7 mm long, 0.8–1 mm diam. Flowers summer.
GipP, CVU, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, HFE, VAlp. Also NSW, Tas. Common in cool, shaded tall open-forest and cool-temperate rainforests, chiefly at higher altitudes, but near sea-level in parts of the Otway Range and Wilsons Promontory.
