Dioecious tufted perennial to 60cm.

Culm: Simple, unbranched. Persistent sheaths wrapped tightly around the culm.

Flowerhead: Male and female inflorescences are very different.

Male flower spikelets are numerous, 5-7mm wide, pendulous and reddish brown in colour; individually small and neat and hanging by thin stalks, looking like tiny bells.

Female spikelets are erect, reddish brown in colour and spiky in appearance. Flowers have finely lacerate wings.

Distribution: From Ceres and Piketberg to the Cape Peninsula and Swartberg and Kouga mountains.

Note: Latin: cernuus = slightly drooping or nodding referring to the male inflorescence.