Forms dense tufts, the stems sticking out at various angles. All spikes unstalked, close together at the top of the stem. Fruit oval, tapering to a notched beak 1 mm long, the notch deeper than wide. Bracts of inflorescence bristle-like rather than leaf-like, but lowest one usually about as long as inflorescence. Spikes are 8 to 13 mm long. Fruit 4 or 5 mm long including beak. Female glumes 3 or 4 mm.

A good photo of the mature fruiting spike is required.

Frequent in bare damp ground and rough grassland, often on acid soils.

July and August.

Perennial.

Widespread and fairly frequent in much of Britain, but scarce in East Anglia.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland, though locally frequent in the Charnwood area. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 63 of the 617 tetrads.