Flora of New Zealand Series

U. australis Pers. var. clavata Kük. in Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 1906, 802.

U. uncinata (Linn. f.) Kük. var. clavata (Kük.) Kük. in Pflanzenr. 38, 1909, 62.

Original localities: "Near Wellington, Kirk! Otira Gorge, Kirk! T.F.C.; Mount Cook district, T.F.C." Type: AK, 2384, Crow's Nest, Wellington, Kirk, 26/1/1888; isotype at WELT.

Caespitose, stout. Culms (15)–25–50–(65) cm. × (0.7)–1–1.5 mm., glab. or rarely scabrid below infl.; basal bracts dull brown or yellowbrown. Lvs 5–9 per culm, us. > culms, 4–6 mm. wide, strongly scabrid on the margins and on the adaxial surface towards tip. Spikes (5)–7–14 cm. long, us. bracteate, clavate, 7–10 mm. diam. at the top below the male spike, female fls ∞, us. c. 65–100, very closely crowded throughout almost the whole spike, internodes 0.5–4 mm. long but up to 8 mm. long at base of spike. Glumes =, > or rarely < utricles, deciduous, narrow-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, coriac. or subcoriac., yellowish brown to dark brown, midrib green. Utricles 5–6–(7) × 1.5–2 mm., plano-convex to subtrigonous, ovate, yellow-brown to dark brown when ripe, one to two lateral nerves prominent and lighter coloured, stipe 1.5–2 mm. long, beak 1.5–2 mm. long; spreading widely when ripe.

DIST.: N., S.

Rather local throughout, in forest, scrub and on river flats, us. from 300–1,200 m. altitude.

Often found growing with U. uncinata but remaining distinct.

Specimens collected from Rangiwahia in the Ruahine Mts have relatively shorter spikes, 5.5–9 cm. long, darker brown utricles c. 1.5 mm. diam. and stipe 1–1.5 mm. long.