Annual herb, sparsely pilose to nearly glabrous, stemless or shortly caulescent, often branched at base, up to 30 cm tall. Leaves close or distant, arranged spirally, narrow lanceolate, 4-15 cm long, 0.3-1 (-1.5) cm broad, entire or sparingly toothed, acuminate, at bases attenuated into narrow, long, amplexicaul, vaginate, 3-5 nerved petioles; vagina 4-5 mm long. Scapes many, axillary, erect to slightly arcuate, 10-20 (-25) cm long. Spikes ellipsoid, 1.5-4 cm long, dense. Bracts equalling the calyx, broadly ovate-oblong, 5-6 cm long, obtuse, glabrous, membranous except the green midrib. Sepals broad ovate, 3.5 mm long, subacute membranous, with green midrib or the inner ones entirely membranous, posterior sepals at midrib glabrous or hairy. Corolla glabrous, ovate, 2-3.75 mm long, acute. Capsule ellipsoid, ± 6 mm long, subobtuse. Seeds 2, 4 mm long, nearly black.

Distribution: From Algeria, Tunisia and Spain, through Mediterranean regions, deserts of north Africa, Egypt, Arabia.