Flora of New Zealand Series

Cushion-forming perennial; stems decumbent, to 5 cm tall, glabrous; internodes c. 1 mm long. Lvs paired, imbricate, linear or ± subulate, glabrous or minutely scabrid on margins near base, acute or shortly acicular, 1.5-5 × 0.3-0.5 mm. Peduncles glabrous, short at flowering, elongating at fruiting to (1)-3-9 mm. Bracts in 1 pair, deltoid, scarious, keeled, 0.5-0.8 mm long. Fls solitary. Sepals 4, narrow-triangular, not scarious, at fruiting connivent and c. 1/2 length of the smooth perigynous zone; whole fr. 1.5-2 mm long. Stamen 1-(2), included in calyx.

N.: Mt Tarawera, Volcanic Plateau, Kaimanawa and Ruahine Ranges, Wairarapa; S.: Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago, Southland; St.: Mason Bay.

Endemic.

Grassland, river flats, rock outcrops.

FL Nov-Jan-(Mar) FT (Jul)-Dec-Apr-(Jun).