DistributionIn the Hawaiian Islands, endemic to Kaua`i, Moloka`i, Lana`i, Maui, Kaho`olawe, Hawai`i.

HabitatCoastal sites in grasslands, on cliffs, and among rocks on beaches

Habit

Perennials with short, woody rhizomes; culms 10-50 cm tall, much shorter than the leaves, 2-5 mm in diameter near base, base thickly clothed with leaf sheaths 3-20 cm long. 

Leaves

Leaves numerous, crowded, coriaceous, linear, shorter than or longer than the culm, 3-8 mm wide, margins recurved; sheaths tinged brown, pale brown, or reddish brown, eventually splitting into parallel fibers.

Flowers

Inflorescences with rays 0.3-3 cm long, only rarely further branched, and glumes, bracteoles, and prophylls spinulose scabrous on the keel and nerve.

Fruit

Achenes linear oblong, trigonous, 1.5-2.2 mm long, ca. 0.4 mm wide.