Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Caryophyllales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Caryophyllaceae
Genus
Colobanthus Bartl.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Colobanthus acicularis Hook.f., Handb. New Zealand Fl. 25 (1864)
 Description

Plant several cm. across, branches robust, many, up to 8 cm. long or more, c. 1 cm. thick including lvs, with few side branches and easily separated from one another. Lvs densely imbricated all round stems and along their length, shining, firm, rounded on back, sheaths short and hidden; blade 5–7 mm. long, subulate, without obvious border or midrib, tapering gradually to long acicular point. Peduncles very short. Fls to 7 mm. long; sepals 5, subulate, firm, rounded on back, gradually tapering into long acicular points like those of lvs; stamens and styles short; capsule narrow, splitting into 5 narrow lobes 1/2-⅔ length of sepals when mature.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Nov.–Dec.; Fruiting: Jan.–Apr.

 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Hooker, J.D. 1864: Handbook of the New Zealand Flora: a systematic description of the native plants of New Zealand and the Chatham, Kermadec's, Lord Auckland's, Campbell's and Macquarie's Islands. Part I. Reeve, London.