Flora of New Zealand Series

Soft aquatic or semi-aquatic herb, the creeping and rooting stems giving off ∞, erect, us. simple, branches 2-10 cm. tall. Lvs opp. linear, entire, subacute, 5-10 mm. long. Fls solitary in the axils of upper lvs, each subtended by 2 subulate, minutely serrulate bracteoles, unisexual; ♀ lower, sepals present but very small, petals and stamens 0; ovary c. 1 mm. long, styles 4, divergent, stigmas plumose; ♂ uppermost, the undeveloped ovary forming a short pedicel; sepals 4, 1 mm. long, narrow-oblong; petals 4, reddish, c. 2 mm. long, becoming reflexed; stamens 8, filaments elongating; fr. partly reddish, c. 1·2 mm. long, narrowed above, surface finely striate.

DIST.: N., S., St., Ch. Often on a peaty substratum, from lat. 38° southwards, to 1500 m. altitude.

FL. 10-2. FT. 1-5. Also in Tasmania and eastern Australia.