Japan Flora: Stems usually erect, 20-60 cm. long; leaves elongate, 3-12 mm. wide, erect, keeled beneath; spikes with 2-5(-6) pistillate, and 3-8 staminate heads, the lowest head pedunclate; fruit 4-5 mm. long, 2-2.5 nim. in diameter, gradually narrowed to a beak; stigma linear, 1.5- 2 mm. long.