Flora of New Zealand Series

Loosely or densely tufted perennial, bronze or occasionally red-purple at base. Stems 15-90 cm high, without internal transverse septa below inflorescence. Leaves terete or ± compressed, transversely-septate with septa usually evident externally. Inflorescence 6-24 cm long, very variable, open, much-branched, with 3-8-flowered clusters at ends of branches. Tepals 3-3.5 mm long, all ± equal, broad, acute. Stamens 6. Capsule 2.5-3.5 mm long, < to ± = tepals, broad, depressed at top, minutely mucronate, reddish-brown.

N. North Auckland - south from Kaitaia; South Auckland; Bay of Plenty; Wellington - Wanganui, Manawatu Gorge. S. Nelson - Takaka; Canterbury - Waimakariri River near Kaiapoi. Scattered in wet places. (S. America)

First record: Healy 1970:148.

First collection: "Puriri, Thames, on shady bank of stream," H. Carse, late Jan., 1929 (CHR 1356).

Another sp. which has been confused over the years, in the field and in the herbarium, with J. acuminatus and J. articulatus. Usually taller and stouter than these two spp., J. microcephalus differs in the broad capsule with depressed top. It is somewhat similar to J. canadensis but is distinguished from that sp. by the softer, less pointed tepals and seeds without tails.