Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Juncaceae Juss.
Genus
Rostkovia Desv.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Rostkovia magellanica (Lam.) Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. I. (Fl. Antarct.) Part I, 81 (1844)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Juncus magellanicus Lam., Encycl. Suppl. 3. 266 (1789)
  • = Rostkovia sphaerocarpa Desv. (1808)
 Description

Plants in small tufts, 5–20–(40) cm. tall. Rhizome 1–2 mm. diam., very shortly creeping, tufts < 4 cm. apart. Stems ∞, c. 0.5 mm. diam., rigid, often enclosed for half their length by the lf-sheaths; basal bracts ∞, mucronulate, often becoming fibrous. Lvs us. > stems, us. < 1 mm. wide, lamina in plants from Subantarctic Is concave on the adaxial surface just above the lf-sheath but distally becoming plano-convex or almost terete with a very shallow abaxial furrow, lamina in South Id plants flattened, rigid, bright green, polished, tips rigid; sheaths light cinnamon-brown, shining, with 2 obtuse auricles. Fls 5–10 mm. long, lower subtending bract lf-like, rigid, 1–3.5 cm. long, the upper membr., c. = tepals. Tepals lanceolate, acute, red-brown with paler membr. margins. Stamens 6, < tepals; anthers ± = filaments, connective apiculate. Capsule 3.5–10.5 × 2–7 mm., slightly > tepals, ellipsoid, hard, smooth and shining, chestnut-brown, mucronate, dehiscing loculicidally towards the apex. Seeds 1.2–2 × 0.6–1.2 mm., obovoid, shining, dark brown almost black, paler towards the base, not tailed.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Dec.–Feb.; Fruiting: Feb.–Apr.

 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Hooker, J.D. 1844–1845: The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage of H.M. Discovery Ships Erebus and Terror in the Years 1839–1843, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross. I. Flora Antarctica. Part I. Botany of Lord Auckland’s Group and Campbell’s Island. Reeve, Brothers, London.
Lamarck, J.B.A.P. de 1789: Encyclopedie Methodique. Botanique. Supplement 3. Paris.