Ficinia marginata (Thunb.) Fourc.

Annual, in dense, rigid tufts. Culms (0.5)–2–7 cm. × c. 0.5 mm., erect. Lvs 1–3, much < to almost = culms, rigid and coriac.; sheaths very pale brown, tinged red at the mouth or entirely red-brown. Infl. apparently lateral, of 1–4 spikelets; subtending bract > spikelets, up to 1.5 cm. long, rigid. Spikelets 2.5–4 × 1.5–2 mm., elliptical or ovoid, dark markings conspicuous. Glumes 1.5–2 mm. long, rigid, boat-shaped, incurved, broadly ovate, yellow with a large red-brown patch on each side towards the tip, marked with deeply incised curved lines, strongly keeled, keel green towards the ± excurrent tip, margins entire. Hypog. bristles 0. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut c. 1 mm. long, slightly > 0.5 mm. wide, elliptic-obovoid, trigonous with subacute angles, minutely apiculate, occ. with a black tip, broadly stipitate, bright yellow to yellow-brown, very minutely punctulate and appearing smooth.

[From: Moore and Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 2 as Scirpus antarcticus L.]