- ≡ Uncinia horizontalis Colenso, Trans. New Zealand Inst. 15: 334 (1833)
- = Uncinia rupestris Raoul, Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. sér. 3, 2: 117 (1844)
- = Uncinia compacta var. viridis C.B.Clarke, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 20: 395 (1883)
- ≡ Uncinia caespitosa var. viridis (C.B.Clarke) Hamlin, 19: 52 (1959)
- ≡ Uncinia viridis (C.B.Clarke) Edgar in Moore & Edgar, Fl. N. Zeal. 2, 229 (1970)
- = Uncinia compacta var. caespitiformis Kük. in Cockayne, Rep. Bot. Surv. Stewart Island 42 (1909)
Forming a dense turf. Culms (10)–20–30–(40) cm. × c. 0.5 mm., drooping or nodding, glab., or slightly scabrid just below infl.; basal bracts light brown, not shining. Lvs 4–6–(7) per culm, < mature culms, c. 1.5–2 mm. wide, bright green, soft, channelled, scabrid on margins and upper surface towards tip. Spikes 3–5–(6) cm. × 3–5 mm., occ. bracteate, female fls 5–13–(33), lax towards base of spike with internodes to 6 mm. long, more crowded above with internodes 0.5–1 mm. long. Glumes ± = or us. < utricles, deciduous, ovate, acute or acuminate, hyaline with green midrib or very pale brown. Utricles 4.5–5.5–(6) × 1–1.5 mm., ovate-lanceolate, trigonous, green to greenish brown, us. smooth except for a prominent lateral nerve but occ. with a few less distinct nerves, somewhat spreading when ripe, slightly contracted below to a stipe c. 1–1.5 mm. long, tapering above to a beak of 1–2 mm. long.
[From: Moore and Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 2. as Uncinia rupestris Raoul]