Stoloniferous perennial, forming loose tufts, (13-)20-40 cm. Rhizome covered by dark brown, soon fibrous scales. Stem obtusely trigonous, smooth. Leaves 1/2-2/3 of stem length, erect, sometimes curled; sheaths 20-30 mm, grey to grey-brown, margin of scarious side almost straigth; ligule c. 0.2 mm, scarcely arched; blades 1-2 mm wide, flat, long-attenuate, basal part adaxially frequently scabrous, margins and keel scabrous towards apex. Inflorescence by 1-5 male spikes, overlapping, and 1-3(-4) female spikes below, more distantly spaced. Bracts up to longer than their spikes, lowest sheath up to 20 mm. Male spikes 5-10 x 2-4 mm, fusiform or club-shaped, brown or yellow; male glumes 4.7 x 2 mm, oblanceolate, light-brown, margins scarious, apex acute or arista to 0.8 mm. Female spikes 8-20 x 3-5 mm, cylindrical or club-shaped, peduncle to 35 mm; female glumes 3.5-3.7 x 1.7-2.3 mm, ovate, acute or with mucro to 0.4 mm, reddish brown, margins widely scarious; utricles 3.8-4 x 1.2-1.3 mm, ellipsoid, fusiform or obovoid, bi-convex, clearly nerved, reddish-brown, finally dark-brown, white pilose all over, beak 1-1.3 mm, cylindrical, ostiole oblique, with widely scarious margins. Stigmas 3. Nut 2.2 x 1.2 mm, including persistent style base c. 0.3 mm, obtusely trigonous, brown, finely reticulate and papillose.

Fl. Per.: July-August.

Type: Kashmir, Kishtwar, Regio alp., 15000 ft, 12.VI.1848, T. Thomson (K!).

On moist moraine in alpine meadows to 4500 m; Distribution: From Dshungarskiy Alatau and Tian Shan Mts. to NE Afghanistan, Pakistan and Western Himalayas.