Flora of New Zealand Series

Densely tufted, slender; rhizome short, tough. Stems 3-20 cm high, erect. Leaves mostly basal,< stems, narrow, subterete, channelled, auricles short; sheaths very pale cream. Inflorescence of 2-3 flower-clusters, 1 in the central fork and 1-2 at the end of 1-2 short, often curved branches; whole inflorescence subtended by 1- (2) longer terete filiform bracts. Flowers 2-6 in a cluster. Tepals to 6 mm long, outer much > inner, acuminate, spreading from mature capsule. Stamens 6. Capsule c. 5 mm long, < tepals, narrow- oblong, obtuse.

N. North Auckland - Cape Reinga, Kaitaia, Ahipara. For a long time known only from Carse' s record and specimens, but recently collected from cape Reinga where it was common in pasture (Te Werahi, Cape Reinga, A. E. Esler 4791, 13.12.1974, CHR 276414). (Australia)

First record: Carse 1916: 239, as "J. plebeius R. Br."

First collection: Kaitaia, H. Carse 484/1, Jan. 1898 (CHR 3256).

The long narrow flowers and capsules are distinctive; in the vegetative state J. homalocaulis could be confused with J. tenuis but lacks the tongue-like auricle.

J. homalocaulis × tenuis hybrids were collected by Carse and by Matthews at Kaitaia in June 1909 (CHR 3255, 3687). The hybrid resembles J. homalocaulis in general aspect, having narrow subterete leaves and short auricles. However the flowers are more numerous than in J. homalocaulis, though fewer than in most forms of J. tenuis, and the length of flowers (4.5-5 mm) matches J. tenuis rather than J. homalocaulis.