Flora of New Zealand Series

O. pumilio var. strictus (Bergg.) H. Pfeiff. in Fedde Repert. Spec. nov. Regn. veg. 23, 1927, 351.

Type locality: "Locis paludosis prope riv. Bealey in alpibus insulae australis Novae Zelandiae". Lectotype: WELT, 35068, S. Berggren, Feb., 1874; isotype at K.

Loosely tufted, 3–12 cm. high. Stems creeping and rooting at nodes, much branched throughout. Lvs not always exactly distichous; lamina narrow-linear, up to 0.5 mm. wide, abaxial surface convex, only the median nerve prominent, adaxial surface channelled, median nerve visible but us. only towards the flattened tip, both surfaces with abundant stomata; sheath 3–5-nerved, nerves often red, tips of sheath truncate or produced upwards and lobed. Infl. a single spikelet, rarely 2; mature peduncle < or ± = lvs. Glumes 3, us. red-tinged; the outer largest, lf-like, the inner 2 shorter, more membr., ± equal. Hypog. scales < nut, lanceolate, us. white with red markings, or pale brown. Nut c. 1.5 × 1mm., light grey with a narrow, 3-pointed, pubescent depression at tip.

DIST.: N. Mountain bogs from lat. 39º southwards. S. Bogs at 1,000–1,500 m. altitude, descending to sea level in the south. St.

Us. in the shade of scrub plants.