Flora of New Zealand Series

 U. rigida Petrie in T.N.Z.I. 17, 1885, 271 non Boeck. in Flora 65, 1882, 64.

U. rubra Boott var. rigida (Petrie) Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 1906, 804.

U. rubra Boott var. strictissima Kük. in Pflanzenr. 38, 1909, 64.

Original localities: Blueskin, Waitahuna, Lawrence, Roxburgh. Type: WELT, 1494, Waitahuna, Tuapeka County, Otago, Petrie; isotypes at AK and CANTY.

Forming dense, rush-like, olive-green tufts, from a slightly ascending rhizome 2–3 mm. diam. Culms 30–55–(70) cm. × c. 1 mm., trigonous and scabrid, but older culms becoming terete and glab., except just under infl.; basal bracts dull dark brown. Lvs 2–3 per culm, much < mature culms, us. involute, c. 1 mm. wide, or up to 2 mm. wide if flat, rigid, strongly nerved, scabrid on margins and on adaxial surface towards tip, sheaths and midrib bright red. Spikes 3–10 cm. long, us. subtended by a reddish bract > spike, female fls c. 10–15, ± distant in longer spikes, internodes up to 14 mm. long at base of spike, 3 mm. long above. Glumes < or = utricles, persistent, obtuse or lowermost subacute, coriac., green to light brown, tinged with pink, margins membr. Utricles 6–7.5 × c. 2 mm., plano-convex, nerved, light brown, often pink towards the top, stipe and beak both cuneate, each 1.5 mm. long.

DIST.: N. Volcanic Plateau. S. Canterbury and Otago. A.

Lowland scrub and swamps, sea level to 900 m. altitude.