Juncus imbricatus Laharpe
Perennial, stiff clumps to 70 cm high. Stems bearing a few basal sheaths and one or two basal leaves. Leaves < stems, very slender, wiry, channelled, reddish-tinged, auricles short. Inflorescence 2.5-6cm long, sparingly branched, usually much overtopped by rigid leaf-like subtending bract. Flowers several, large, evenly spaced along branches. Tepals 4-5.5 mm long, all ± equal, acute, appressed to mature capsules. Stamens 6. Capsule 6-6.5 mm long, much > tepals, ovoid, somewhat tapering to blunt top, bright shining reddish-brown.
S. Nelson - Brightwater, Snowdens Bush Domain, Nelson City - near old Waterworks Reserve: harbour reclamation. Waste land. (S. America)
First record: Healy 1970: 155.
First collection: "Old Waterworks Rd, Nelson, roadside in grass, A. J. Healy 313, 5.3.1947, several plants noted" (CHR 81362).
A more robust plant than either J. tenuis or J. dichotomus, the large reddish-brown capsules with closely appressed tepals are distinctive.
Probably J. imbricatus var. chamissonis is more widespread than at present known. It was originally collected from poor hill country behind Nelson City, but recently, plants were found on an area of coastal reclamation at Nelson, the seed apparently being carried to the site in fill from inland excavations.
