- ≡ Scirpus subtilissimus (Boeckeler) S.T.Blake, 8: 20 (1969)
- = Schoenoplectus merrillii Palla (1911)
- ≡ Scirpus merrillii (Palla) Kük. ex Merr. (1923)
Small, fine-lvd tufts, from a much-branched, creeping rhizome up to 0.5 mm. diam. Culms filiform, 1–5–(9) cm. × 0.2–0.3 mm. Lvs 1–4, < or often > culms, c. 0.5 mm. wide, setaceous, channelled. Infl. apparently lateral, us. a solitary spikelet, occ. 2, subtending bract much > infl., up to 3 cm. long. Spikelets 1–2.5 × 1–1.5 mm., ovate, pale green. Glumes only slightly > 1 mm. long, ovate or elliptical, ± acute, pale cream and membr., or marked with red, keel green, prominent, occ. slightly excurrent, margins hyaline. Hypog. bristles 0. Stamens 1, occ. 2–3 in lowermost glumes of spikelet. Style-branches 3. Nut < 1 mm. long, c. 0.5 mm. wide, almost = glume, trigonous and prominently ribbed on dorsal angle, mucronate, pale straw-coloured.
[From: Moore and Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 2 as Scirpus subtilissimus (Boeck.) S.T.Blake]