Chorizandra sphaerocephala

Perennial with tough rhizome. Culms to 110 cm high, 2–6 mm diam., unitubular, transverse septa usually obvious externally, yellow-green, longitudinally striate but not warty. Inner leaf-blades usually much shorter and more slender than culms, pluritubular; sheaths loose, pallid to orange-brown, to 20 cm long. Inflorescence ± globose, 7–12 mm diam., with numerous pseudospikelets; core conical. Involucral bract to 10 cm long, pluritubular; base not enlarged and not sheathing inflorescence. Pseudospikelets with 11–18 glumes, c. 8–15 stamens; glumes spathulate to ligulate, dark red-brown and ± densely red-hairy towards apex, with midrib thickened and ± keeled towards apex, 3.5–4 mm long; apex irregularly toothed, acute or 3-fid with mucro to 0.7 mm long. Nut with 6 complete and 6 partial longitudinal ridges, grey-brown, 1.7–2 mm long, 1.0–1.3 mm diam. Flowers spring–summer.