Japan Flora: Rhizomes hard, abbreviated; culms 30-80 cm. long, thickened at base; leaves 3-6 mm. wide; inflorescence umbelliform or capitate, simple, with 5 to 15 rays to 8 cm. long; bracts 4 or 5, leaflike, longer than the inflorescence; spikes cylindrical; spikelets spreading, linear-lanceolate, terete or obscurely 3-angled, 1- 5 mm. long, pale green, in part slightly yellowish, acuminate, 0.5-0.7 mm. wide, 1- or 2-flowered; scales erect, narrowly oblong, about 3 mm. long, involute, obtuse; achenes 2/3 as long as the scale, narrowly oblong, obtusely 3-angled; stigmas 3. Aug.-Oct.
Honshu (Izu Isis., s. Kinki, Chugoku Distr.). s. Korea, China, Ryukyus, Formosa, Malaysia, India, Australia, and Africa.