Simplicia laxa Kirk
≡S. laxa Kirk var. laxa (autonym Zotov 1943 op. cit. p. 236);
Lectotype: WELT 43017! D. Petrie Waikouaiti, Otago, (designated by Zotov 1971 op. cit. p. 541).
Plants weak, 25-50 cm. Leaf-sheath membranous, strongly ribbed, pubescent, especially the light brown basal sheaths. Ligule 1-3 mm, erose, abaxially pubescent. Leaf-blade 6-10 cm × 1.5-2 mm, scabrid on ribs or smooth, adaxially sometimes shortly and sparsely pubescent; margins minutely scabrid. Culm internodes glabrous. Panicle 10-15 cm, ± pyramidal; rachis glabrous, branches ± scabrid, binate, spreading to reflexed, naked in lower ½, pedicels short, pubescent, ± appressed to branchlets. Spikelets 2.5-3 mm, 1-flowered, lanceolate, light green. Glumes glabrous, ovate-lanceolate to ovate, acute, margins ciliate; lower 0.5-0.7 mm, upper 0.8-1 mm. Lemma ≈ spikelet, shortly pubescent, 3-nerved or with 2 additional fainter lateral nerves, ovate-lanceolate, acute to mucronate. Palea 2-2.5 mm, 1-2-nerved, shortly pubescent, especially on nerves. Rachilla prolongation c. 0.5 mm, very minutely ciliate. Anthers c. 1 mm. Caryopsis c. 1.5 mm long. 2 n = 28.
N.: Wairarapa at Ruamahanga Valley; S.: Otago at Ngapara, on Rock and Pillar and Old Man Ranges, and at Waikouaiti. Stony ground in shade of rocks or other shelter; lowland to montane.
Endemic.
