Ischyrolepis

Plants caespitose. Rhizomes usually not developed or short. Culms branching, rarely simple. Leaf sheaths persistent. Maleinflorescence similar to female or different, usually with more florets, often smaller. Female inflorescence variable, from 1-many spikelets, variously arranged. Female spikelets generally spindle-shaped to ovate or rounded; bracts osseous, rarely chartaceous, somewhat taller than or slightly shorter than florets, 1-many fertile; perianth segments osseous, outer lateral ones keeled; staminodes minute; ovary 2(1)-locular; styles 2, fused at base into persistent stylopodium. Fruit a 1- or 2-locular capsule.