This tuftedperennial grows to be tall. Woodyroots grow from a horizontalrhizome and are densely covered in root hairs. The shoots grow close to each other and are fibrous at the base. Between one and three long, slender and cylindrical ribbed leaves grow from each shoot. These extend past the stems and the small red to brownflowers, which are borne in pseudolateral spikes. The inflorescences look like a continuation of the stem. Two to ten flowers occur on each inflorescence. The seeds are brown and round.