Juncus gerardii Loisel.

Erect tufts forming a loose sward from a far-extending black rhizome. Stems 40–80 cm tall, rather slender, wiry. Leaves narrow, c. ½ length of stem, very shallowly channelled, lowest 1–2 reduced to sheaths, auricles short. Inflorescence 3–8–(12) cm long, strict, with few unequal branches. Flowers ± distant and borne singly towards tips of secondary branchlets. Tepals 2.5–4 mm long, ± equal, outer incurved or ± hooded at tip, dark brown to black, Capsule 3 mm long, ± = or slightly > tepals, obovoid, obtuse with a slight mucro, light brown.

[From: Healy and Edgar (1980) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 3.]