The main distinguishing morphological characters of S. compactus are its short, dense and compact (or congested) inflorescences and its firm sheaths and ligules.

It appears that part of this problem is caused by the tendency of the southern African Schoenus to form hybrids with each other.

[3] Other notable genera in tribe Schoeneae include Lepidosperma, Oreobolus, Costularia, Tetraria and Gahnia.

[3][1] Southern African Schoenus were once classified as Tetraria; however, based on molecular and morphological differences, we now know that the two groups are evolutionary distinct.

[6] Schoenus compactus has been found growing in south-western South Africa, with its distribution extending from the Cape Peninsula in the west to the Riviersonderend Mountains in the east.