[4] The rhizomatous perennial sedge has a tufted habit and can be evergreen or deciduous[3] It has straight culms with a triangular cross section that are 25 to 60 cm (9.8 to 23.6 in) in length.

The linear shaped leaves sound on the flowering stems have a length up to 14 cm (5.5 in) and are 1.5 to 4.5 mm (0.059 to 0.177 in) wide.

The inflorescences are found at the tip of the culm in the form of 5 to 70 mm (0.20 to 2.76 in) long spikes.

[5] The species was first formally described by the botanist Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1813 as a part of the work Catalogus Plantarum Horti Botanici Monspeliensis.

[2] In Europe the range of the species extends from Spain in the west to Ukraine in the east and from Italy and Greece in the south to as far north as Finland, Norway and sweden.