[3] The sedge has long creeping rhizomes and forms large colonies.

It has lateral culms with a triangular cross-section that have a length of 25 to 90 cm (9.8 to 35.4 in).

There are reddish to purple coloured basal sheaths under the leaves.

The leaves meet the stem forming a 1.2 to 9 mm (0.047 to 0.354 in) a membranous scale, or ligule, on the inner side of the leaf sheath.

The glabrous leaves are green and have an M-shape with a width of 2.2 to 5.5 mm (0.087 to 0.217 in).