It is widespread across tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East, India, Central Asia, Australia and various oceanic islands.

[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Cyperus laevigatusis a perennial sedge growing up to 60 centimeters tall, sometimes in clumps interconnected on a horizontal rhizome.

The inflorescence is a small array of cylindrical spikelets with one to three leaflike bracts at the base.

In Hawai'i, Cyperus laevigatus is known as makaloa and was used by the people of Ni'ihau to make beautiful plaited mats.

[9] The caterpillars of the tiny moth Chedra microstigma have been found to mine within the leaves of this host plant in coastal marsh in Oahu.