Flora of New Zealand Series

Isotype: AK, 59206, "Waitakaruru, near Thames," V. J. Cook 542, Jan., 1944. Australian specimens appear to be conspecific.

Summer-green perennial. Rhizome 3–4 mm. diam., forming globose, ligneous tubers. Culms 30–90 cm. × 2–3 mm., triquetrous; basal sheaths 1–2, grey, often membr., with a short, channelled lamina. Lvs ∞, <, = or > culms, 2.5–4 mm. wide, double-folded but flattened, coriac., tapering, margins and midrib scabrid towards the tip, sheath closed, coriac. Infl. a terminal, compact head of 3–6 spikelets, often with 1–3 rays, 1–4 cm. long; subtending involucral bracts 1–3, similar to lvs, > infl., unequal, 4–22 cm. × 1.5–2.5 mm. Spikelets 1–2 cm. long, ovoid to cylindrical, red-brown. Glumes membr., pubescent, tips slightly cleft or lacerate, midrib produced to a scabrid, gradually recurved awn. Hypog. bristles 6, unequal, up to ½ length of nut, retrorsely scabrid, cream, deciduous. Stamens 3. Style-branches 2. Nut 3.5–4 × c. 2.5 mm., biconvex or obovoid, compressed, with a small depression on each side, smooth, shining, apiculate, cream to dull brown.

DIST.: N. on the east coast from Auckland southwards, particularly in Gisborne and Hawke's Bay; on the west coast at Kaipara Harbour and Foxton, inland at Hamilton. S. Nelson and Marlborough, and on the Canterbury and Otago coasts as far south as Dunedin.

Us. coastal in saline and sandy areas.