Flora of New Zealand Series

Isolepis prolifer (Rottb.) R.Br. Prodr.  1810,  223.

I. globosa Buchan. in T .N.Z.I.  3,  1871,  211.

Type locality: S. African. Also in Australia.

Culms (6)–25–60–(90) cm.×(0.7)–1–3–(4) mm., in tufts, ± compressed, lax and soft, or narrower, terete and erect, lfless, bearing a single reddish basal sheath with dilated oblique orifice. Infl. an apparently lateral cluster of ∞ spikelets, often proliferous with 1–4–(10) branchlets, 2–7 cm. long, each sheathed at the base and bearing a further small head of spikelets; bract subtending infl. obtuse, < spikelets. Spikelets 2–10 × 1–2 mm., narrow-linear, cylindrical, green to light red-brown. Glumes 2–2.5 × c. 1 mm., ovate- to oblong-lanceolate, subacute to very shortly apiculate, membr., flecked with small, light red-brown striae, margins entire and keel pale brown or green, lateral nerves conspicuous. Hypog. bristles 0. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut c. 1 × 0.5 mm., c. ½ length of glume, trigonous, sides convex between the slightly thickened angles, minutely apiculate and stipitate, creamy yellow, surface minutely reticulate.

DIST.: N. Local north of lat. 40º30' but more common further south near Wellington. S. Common in Buller and Westland.

Swampy ground and edges of pools, sea level to 300 m. altitude.

I. globosa Buchan. Type locality: "Karori Hills, Wellington, where it shows bright green patches in damp hollows . . . The long linear spikelets distinguish this from the other New Zealand species." In Buchanan's collection at OTA there is a piece of flowering culm labelled Isolepis globosa. This agrees well with Buchanan's description and also with specimens of S. prolifer. A specimen labelled S. prolifer in Buchanan's collection is actually S. sulcatus var. distigmatosus.