The annual grass like sedge typically grows to a height of 0.1 to 0.2 metres (0.33 to 0.66 ft). It blooms between May and April producing green flowers.[2]
The leaves are 1 to 2 mm (0.039 to 0.079 in) wide, and are often reduced to sheaths and much shorter than the culms. The simple head-like inflorescences have between three and seven branches and are around 8 cm (3.1 in) in length. The digitate clusters to have a diameter of around 15 mm (0.59 in) with leaf-like bracts the lowest of which is erect and looks like a continuation of the culm and has alength exceeding that of the inflorescence. There are two to eight flattened spikelets cluster containing 20 flowers. After flowering a broad ovoid shaped brown nut will form that is 0.5 mm (0.020 in) in length with a diameter of about 0.3 mm (0.012 in).[3]
The species was first formally described by the botanist Robert Brown in 1810 as part of the work Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et insulae Van-Diemen, exhibens characteres plantarum quas annis 1802-1805. The two known synonyms are; Cyperus trinervis var. flaccidus and Cyperus macellus.[4]
