[2][3] It was first described in 1844 by Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck as Chaetospora nana,[1][4] but in 1878 was transferred by George Bentham to the genus, Schoenus.

[6] Bentham[5] describes the plant as follows: Dwarf and densely tufted but perhaps annual.

Spikelets terminal, erect, 2 to 4 together, sessile or very shortly pedicellate between 2 involucral bracts, 1 often longer than the inflorescence.

Hypogynous bristles 6, shorter than the nut or 1 or 2 longer, very shortly ciliate, not plumose.

Nut obovoid-globular, the ribs scarcely prominent, obtuse, tubercular-rugose.A more recent description is given by Karen Wilson in 1994.