Class
Order
Family
Genus
Densely tufted annual to perennial. Stems to 50 cm tall, 3-angled, leafy at base. Leaves < stems, 2–3 mm wide, smooth; sheaths purple-brown, sometimes with a few transverse septa. Involucral bracts 3–6, leaf-like, > inflorescence. Inflorescence capitate or with rays to 4 cm long. Spikelets ± stiffly erect in rather dense clusters, narrow-linear, acute, ± 15 × 1.5 mm. Glumes ± 2 mm long, densely imbricate, membranous, subobtuse, chestnut or straw-coloured with green keel. Stamens 2. style-branches 2. Nut ± ½ length of glume, oblong, compressed-biconvex, brown.
[From: Healy and Edgar (1980) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 3 as Cyperus polystachyos Rottb.]