Zotovia thomsonii (Petrie) Edgar & Connor

Rhizomatous perennials, with culms branching freely intravaginally and forming light green, dense, low mats (1.5)–2–4–(8) cm high. Leaf-sheath smooth, usually cream, cross-veinlets few. Ligule almost a line. Leaf-blade 0.5–1.8 cm × 1.4–2–(3) mm, spreading, usually flat, margins incurved but sometimes more inrolled, lanceolate, glabrous, cream cross-veinlets visible, only slightly tapering to short, acute tip, margins minutely scabrid. Culm erect, only slightly projecting beyond leaves at flowering but later elongating to c. 8 cm. Inflorescence an erect raceme 0.5–1–(1.5) cm, of (2)–4–7 spikelets, occasionally reduced to a single spikelet. Spikelets (3.5)–4.5–6 mm, on short, smooth pedicels appressed to rachis. Glumes obtuse, margins smooth, rarely ciliate above; lower 1–1.5 mm, upper 1.2–2 mm. Ø lemmas abaxially smooth, sometimes cross-veinlets visible, adaxially minutely pubescent above, awn scabrid, 1–1.5 mm; callus hairs dense, c. 1 mm; lower Ø lemma 3–4.5 mm; upper Ø lemma 3.5–5.5 mm. ☿ lemma 2.3–5 mm, acute or obliquely truncate, occasionally mucronate, smooth, keel sometimes minutely scabrid near tip. Palea 2.5–3.5 mm, keel scabrid near base. Rachilla prolongation to 0.5 mm, or reduced to a minute knob. Lodicules c. 0.8–1 mm, ± elliptic to cuneate, erose. Anthers 1–1.7 mm. Gynoecium: ovary c. 0.8 mm; stigma-styles 1–1.3 mm. Caryopsis 2–2.5 ×c. 0.7 mm. 2n=c. 48.

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