Flora of New Zealand Series

Tightly packed clump; rhizome short. Stems 75-100cm × 2-4 mm, ± bright green, very soft, very finely ridged, pith continuous' throughout, greyish-white, cobwebby, or interrupted by small shallow cavities below. Basal sheaths (in N.Z. specimen) bright yellow-brown. Inflorescence 4-6 cm long, variable, diffuse with several long branches, or branches shorter with more numerous densely crowded flowers. Tepals 1.5-2 mm long, ± equal, acute. Stamens 3. Capsule c. 2mm long, > tepals, ovoid, tapered to subacute top, shinning reddish-brown.

N. North Auckland - "Lake Rotokawau, Mangonui Co., A. E. Esler and G. B. Rawlings, 20.12.1974, single plant in wet sandy soil on margin of lake", (CHR 238707); only collection. (Australia)

First record: L. A. S. Johnson loc. cit.

An anomalous plant; the single N.Z. collection has the clump form and soft green stems with cobwebby, ± entire pith of J. effusus, but basal sheaths are light straw to light brown; the heads resemble J. australis in form and variability, but capsules are smaller, tapered towards the top, and reddish-brown.