Flora of New Zealand Series

Mat or cushion-forming perennial; stems decumbent, to 5 cm tall, glabrous; internodes 1-3 mm long. Lvs paired, ± spreading, linear, scabrid on margins and keel, shortly acicular, (2)-5-8 × 0.5 mm. Peduncles glabrous, short at flowering, elongating at fruiting to 2-8 mm. Bracts in 2 pairs, deltoid, scarious, keeled, up to 1 mm long. Fls paired. Sepals 4, narrow-triangular, not scarious, at fruiting connivent and c. 1/2 length of the smooth perigynous zone; whole fr. 1.5-2 mm long. Stamen 1, included in calyx.

N.: throughout; S.: Nelson and throughout eastern districts.

Also indigenous to Australia, including Tasmania.

Usually coastal on rock and scree, sometimes inland on mountains.

FL Nov-Jan-(Jun) FT (Aug)-Nov-Apr-(Jun).