Carex secta var. tenuiculmis Petrie
Original localities: "Damp localities in eastern and southern Otago: D.P. Damp localities in the Hanmer and Castle Hill districts, North Canterbury: Arnold Wall! Damp localities in Chatham Islands: L. Cockayne! W. R. B. Oliver!". Lectotype: CANTY, 3377, near Waimakariri R., Craigieburn, A. Wall, Feb., 1919.
Culms 20–50 cm. × c. 1 mm. Lvs c. 2 mm. wide. Infl. 6–20–(30) cm. long, ± pend., either an unbranched axis with a few small distant spikes, or sparingly branched below.
DIST.: S. Mainly in inland Canterbury, rare in Nelson and Otago. St., Ch.
Sea level to c. 650 m. altitude.
Some plants have reddish lvs and culms.