Schoenus rufus Hudson, Fl. Angl., ed. 2: 15. 1798). Scirpus rufus (Hudson) Schrader, Fl. Germ. 1: 133. 1806; C.B.Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind.6: 661. 1893; R.R.Stewart, l.c. 103; B. exilis (Printz) Ivanova, Journ. Bot. (Leningrad) 24: 502. 1939; B. rufus subsp. exilis Printz, Veg. Sib. Mong. Front.: 171. 1921; - V. Kreczetovicz, in Fl. Uzbekistana 1: Tab. 52, Fig. 2. 1941, as B. exilis).

Perennial, 7-23 cm. Rhizome horizontal, short or stoloniferous., yellowish. Stem 0.5-1 mm diam., soft, greyish green, smooth. Leaves c. half of stem length; sheaths to 60 mm, from yellowish to dark brown, soft, mouth margin from clearly distictly concave to nearly sraight; ligule c. 0.3 mm, conspicuous, arch to as long as wide; blades grey-green, canaliculate to involute, smooth, apex long-attenuate, blunt. Inflorescence a multiple spike, 10-15 cm x 3-5 mm; lowest bract glume-like or green, sheathless, erect and longer than inflorescence; upper bracts glume-like, 5-7 mm, clasping, wide, with 5 nerves, brown; primary branches 1-2 mm, with 2-3(-5) flowers; prophylls 4-5 mm, fertile; glumes 3.5-6 mm, decurrent; perianth bristles 2-3, weakly developed or missing; stamens (2-) 3; nut c. 4 x 1.6 mm, ovate, gradually tapering to persistent style base, smooth, brown.

Type: From England.

Salt marshes; Distribution: From N. Europe, Wales and the Netherlands to Yakutia, in Asia S to Tadjikistan and Kashmir.

A segregate genus Blysmopsis, based on anatomical evidence, was proposed for B. rufus by Oteng-Yeboah (Notes RBG Edinburgh 35: 399-406. 1977).