Annual. Rhizomes fibrous. Sterns 8-40 cm, erect or geniculately ascending from base, loosely tufted, 3-4-noded. Leaf sheaths glabrous, uppermost one strongly inflated; ligule 1-3 mm, obtuse; blades 0.7-16 cm x 1-3 mm, linear, acuminate, slightly rough on upper surface, glabrous beneath. Panicle 1.1-3.2 cm x 9-11 mm, ovate-oblong, tapering towards apex, branches with 1-2 spikelets. Spikelets 5-8 mm. Glumes subcoriaceous, strongly flattened, connate for 1/3-1/2 of their length, gibbous at sides, abruptly triangular-cuspidate above middle, acute, slightly divergent at apex, ciliate on keel. Lemma as long as glumes or slightly longer, lanceolate, subobtuse to acute, awned above base, margins connate for 1/2 of their length; awn 7-18 mm. Palea absent. Anthers 3.4-4.9 mm, Fl. 3-5. Moist water meadows near sea, s.l.-100 m.

W. & S. Europe, reaching its eastern limit in Turkey. Medit.element.