Small tufts 3–13 cm from long fine rhizomes, of many dense fine leaves with needle-like tips subtending short racemose inflorescences at first partly concealed among leaves, later borne well above on elongate stems; branching intravaginal. Leaf-sheath to 8 mm, keeled, glabrous, wider than blade, lobed apically. Auricles 0. Ligule c. 0.5 mm, tapered and longer at centre, noticeably ciliate. Leaf-blade 1–2.6 cm × 0.5 mm diam., tightly inrolled, light green with cream cross-veinlets, glabrous, pinched into curved, pale tip; margins with minute prickle-teeth. Culm very slender, minutely pubescent below inflorescence. Raceme c. 1 cm, of 3–6 spikelets; pedicels with dense, minute prickle-teeth. Spikelets 5–7.5 mm, laterally compressed. Glumes ± equal, 2–3.5 mm, c. ½ length of spikelet, lanceolate, subacute, keeled above, glabrous, margins with minute prickle-teeth; lower 1-nerved, upper 3-nerved. Ø lemmas unequal, lanceolate, long-narrowed above, keel and margins minutely prickle-toothed; lower Ø lemma 5–5.5 mm, 5-nerved, callus hairs 1–1.5 mm; upper Ø lemma 6–6.8 mm, 3-nerved, callus hairs 1.5–2 mm. ☿ lemma 3–4 mm, narrow elliptic, glabrous, tip truncate, erose to almost lacerate, ciliate. Palea 2.5–2.75 mm, apex ciliate. Lodicules c. 0.75 mm, flabellate, erose. Anthers 1.1–1.5 mm. Gynoecium: ovary c. 0.6 mm; stigma-styles c. 1 mm, stigmas plumose. Caryopsis not seen.
[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]