The stems vary from being almost upright (i.e. erect) to lying close to the ground (i.e. prostrate). The seed-heads (i.e. inflorescences) are borne on upright (i.e. erect) or angled stalks 20-60 cm long. They have 1-15 branches or spikes (3.5-15.5 cm long) radiating outwards, like a windmill (i.e. they are digitate or sub-digitate). Numerous flower spikelets (3.5-7 mm long) are densely arranged in a loosely overlapping manner along these spikes and each contain a pair of bracts (i.e. glumes) and three to nine tiny flowers (i.e. florets).