Juncus pauciflorus R.Br.
J. gunnii Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. 2, 1858, 67.
J. pauciflorus R. Br. var. gunnii (Hook. f.) Buch. in Engl. Bot. Jb. 12, 1890, 239.
Type locality: Australian. Type: BM.
Slender clumps with rather weak stems spreading from the base. Rhizome 2–3 mm. diam., horizontal. Flowering stems 25–70–(100) cm. × 0.75–2 mm., bright green, smooth, shining, pith continuous; lvs 0; basal bracts short, very dark red-brown, closely sheathing. Infl. apparently lateral, lax, with fls evenly spaced, often rather remote, on slender, flexible, ± curved branchlets. Fls 2.5–3 mm. long; tepals light greenish brown. Stamens 6. Capsule 2.5–3.5 mm. long, us. distinctly > tepals, ovoid to almost oblong, light brown to red-brown, often very dark towards the tip.
DIST.: N. Northland, Auckland, near Thames, near Taihape, Hutt Valley. S. Nelson, Pelorus Valley, Marlborough, near Westport, and at Blueskin Bay and Dunedin. St.
Lowland, in damp pasture, on margins of swamps, in hollows in scrub, or in sandy ground at margins of coastal forest; local.
J. gunnii was described from Tasmania and the type is at K. Apparently it falls within the normal variation of J. pauciflorus in Australia.
J. pauciflorus may be distinguished from other rushes of sect. Genuini, by its lax-fld infl., 6 stamens and dark green stems with continuous pith.
