Tubers are the only plant part to overwinter.
The stems are erect, 15-76 cm tall, waxy, triangular, and unbranched. Triangular stems are characteristic of the sedge family. The leaves are grass-like, long and narrow, shiny, hairless, with closed sheaths. The flowers are brown and occur as sessile spikes in an umbel. The seeds are 3-sided achenes that are white to brown in colour.