Flora of New Zealand Series

Shoots close together from woody, dark brown rhizomes, loosely tufted, not tussock-forming, pale or bright green, to 55 cm high. Inflorescence a spike-like greenish-brown panicle 1.5-5 cm long. Spikes many, sessile, ± densely clustered, male flowers at top. Utricles dark brown, nerved on one face; beak-margins scabrid. Stigmas 2.

N. Volcanic Plateau; Hawkes Bay; Wellington - north of Plimmerton. S. Scattered; more common in Canterbury, not known from Westland or Fiordland. In wet bog or peat; sea-level to montane. (Europe, N. Asia, N. America)