Flora of New Zealand Series

Type: WELT, 2007, Nevis Valley, E. of Hector Mts, Otago, c. 2,000 ft, D. Petrie.

Reddish, rhizomatous tufts. Rhizome 1–1.5 mm. diam. Culms 2–8–(15) cm. × c. 1 mm., cylindrical, glab.; shorter culms almost hidden within the grey-brown or light yellow-brown lf-sheaths. Lvs > or occ. < culms, 1–2 mm. wide, concavo-convex, margins and occ. keel scabrid towards lf-tip. Infl. of 3–4–(5) approximate, sessile spikes, lowermost spike in taller plants occ. distant; terminal spike male, glumes ovate, us. entire, creamy brown; remaining spikes female, clustered round base of male spike, 0.5–1 cm. × 3–4 mm. Glumes c. ½ the length of the utricles, ovate, almost hyaline with light red-brown striae, midrib cream, scabrid at the tip which is occ. produced to a very minute awn. Utricles 1.5–2.5 × c. 1 mm., ovoid-ellipsoid, cream at the base with red-brown to almost black markings on upper half, nerves distinct in lower half, margins glab.; beak minute, up to 0.3 mm. long, orifice entire or minutely bidentate, slightly scabrid; stipe minute or up to c. 0.5 mm. long. Stigmas 3. Nut c. 1 × 1 mm., obovoid, trigonous with rounded angles, dark grey-brown when mature.

DIST.: Western Central Otago between Lakes Wanaka and Wakatipu, from 500–1,300 m. altitude, in damp ground.