Flora of New Zealand Series

Type locality: Mount Alta. Type K, "Otago Lake District, Hector and Buchanan, 1864-5".

Plant with woody subterranean stems and very close-set subherbaceous slender erect branches up to c. 4 cm. tall; branchlets ± 25 × 2.5 mm., including the densely imbricate lvs. Sheath broad-ovate, c. 1 mm. long with thin margins, rather abruptly tapering into shining, rigid, ovate-subulate, minutely ciliolate lamina c. 2 mm. long; apex obtuse. Lower lvs sts without subulate apex. Fls solitary, terminal, ± 3-4 mm. long. Sepals = corolla-tube, ovate, rather abruptly narrowed to obtuse tip. Corolla white; tube cylindric, 2-5 mm, long, lobes broad, obtuse to subacute.

DIST.: S. Higher montane to subalpine herbfield and boggy ground from lat. 43º 30' southwards especially along and west of divide.