Zotovia colensoi (Hook.f.) Edgar & Connor

Perennial, (4)–15–(45) cm, forming narrow tufts with yellow-green, papery leaves from long, trailing culms, narrowly branching intravaginally and bare below except for remains of old sheaths. Leaf-sheath smooth, cross-veinlets ± visible, cream. Ligule 0.1–0.2 mm, a truncate minutely ciliolate rim. Leaf-blade 4–10 cm × 1.5 mm, ± erect, linear, flat, becoming inrolled, ribs and cross-veinlets cream, abaxially smooth, adaxially minutely scabrid on ribs, long-tapering to acicular tip, margins minutely scabrid. Panicle (1)–3–5–(7) cm, loosely spike-like, curved or drooping; branches smooth to slightly scabrid. Spikelets (6)–7–10 mm, shortly pedicelled. Glumes obtuse to acute, to truncate and shortly mucronate, margins finely ciliate above; lower 2–3.7 mm, upper 2.5–4 mm. Ø lemmas abaxially smooth, sometimes cross-veinlets visible, ± scabrid on keel, adaxially minutely pubescent above, awn 2–3 mm, scabrid; callus hairs dense, 2–3 mm; lower Ø lemma 5–6–(8) mm; upper Ø lemma (5)–6–9 mm. ☿ lemma 4–5.5 mm, obtuse tip ciliolate, occasionally obliquely truncate and very shortly mucronate, keel smooth. Palea 2.5–4 mm. Rachilla prolongation to 0.7 mm, minutely hairy at apex, or reduced to a minute knob tipped by fine hairs. Lodicules 1–1.5 mm, cuneate, erose to lacerate. Anthers c. 2 mm. Gynoecium: ovary to 1 mm; stigma-styles to 1.5 mm. Caryopsis c. 2.5 × 1 mm. 2n=c. 48.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]