Dwarf umbrella sedge is a graminoid, 1-6dm tall, with an inflorescence in one to many terminal clusters, the spikelets are 6-15mm long, scales have awns, its anthers are 0.5-0.7mm. Its brown to red-brown achenes are 3-angled, 1mm. Leaves are flat with hairy margins and up to 10cm long.