Flora of New Zealand Series

Stems 20-50 cm long. Leaves 2 mm wide. Inflorescence to 20 cm long, unbranched or sparingly branched.

S. Mainly in inland Canterbury; rare in Nelson, Otago and Fiordland. St., Ch. Sea-level to montane.

The large tussocks with trunk-like bases are a conspicuous but decreasing feature of swampy places, the habitat being steadily reduced in extent by drainage and conversion to agricultural land. The size and bulk of the individual plants presents a physical handling problem in swamp land development.