Uncinia astonii Hamlin
Type locality: Mukumuku River, Wellington. Type: WELT, 2856, Aston.
Densely caespitose. Culms 20–35–(60) cm. long, < 0.5 mm. diam., glab.; basal bracts light brown. Lvs 3–6 per culm, = or < culms, 1–2 mm. wide, light yellow-green or rarely red, occ. involute, rather wiry, margins finely scabrid. Spikes (4)–6–10 cm. × 3–5 mm., occ. bracteate, female fls c. 10–20, distant in lower third of spike with internodes to 9 mm. long, more crowded above with internodes 2–5 mm. long. Glumes us. = but occ. < or > utricles, deciduous, lanceolate, acute, hyaline, light brown throughout. Utricles (5.5)–6–7 × c. 1 mm., plano-convex or subtrigonous, elliptic-lanceolate, grey-green, membr., nerved, erect or spreading when ripe, distinctly contracted below to a stipe slightly < 1.5 mm. long, gradually tapered above to a beak 1.5–2 mm. long.
DIST.: N. Southern Ruahine and Tararua Ranges. S. Nelson, Westland, Otago at Mt Cargill, Fiordland.
Forest from 300–1,200 m. altitude.
