Rytidosperma exiguum (Kirk) H.P.Linder

Low-growing tufts of slender shoots usually spaced singly along a comparatively stout, far-creeping, woody rhizome; leaves setaceous, curved outwards, bright green becoming yellow, apparently glabrous except at sheath apex, much < mature culms; branching intravaginal. Leaf-sheath tightly appressed to shoot, mostly below ground-level, light brown to whitish, pinkish-tinged at first, entirely glabrous, shining, soft, ± transparent, ribs more distinct in older sheaths, apical tuft and collar hairs to 1 mm. Ligule c. 0.1 mm. Leaf-blade to 6 cm, folded, with smooth incurved margins, glabrous, tip obtuse, with a few minute prickle-teeth. Culm 2–7–(8.5) cm, erect, filiform, internode glabrous. Inflorescence a reduced panicle, to 1.5 cm, of 1–2–(4) brownish green, ovoid, 2–3–(6)-flowered spikelets c. 6 mm; pedicels minutely hairy; florets ☿; disarticulating above glumes and between florets. Glumes ± equal, (3.5)–5–6.5–(9.5) mm, ≈ florets, stiffly concave, ovate, green at centre with purple lateral band and broad light brown margins, lower 7-nerved, upper 5-nerved, glabrous apart from minute prickle-teeth on midrib near apex and finely ciliate margins. Lemma (2.5)–3.5–4–(5) mm, (7)–9-nerved, light green, purple-tinged above, hard and shining; hairs short and scattered, longer on margins and in 2 bands ± centrally, scarious towards tip with rather dense minute prickle-teeth; apex tridentate with central scabrid mucro 0.2–0.5–(0.8) mm between shorter lobes. Palea < lemma, (2.5)–3–3.5–(4.5) mm, keel and apex conspicuously densely ciliate, several longer hairs on margin. Callus 0.3–0.5 mm, glabrous. Rachilla glabrous. Lodicules 2, ± truncate, apically long hairy. Stamens 3, anthers (0.8)–1.3–1.8 mm, scarlet or cream. Gynoecium: ovary 0.5 mm; stigma-styles 2, c. 2 mm. Fruit an achene, c. 1.5 × 0.8–1 mm; embryo ⅓ to ½ length achene; hilum basal, ⅓ length achene.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing). as Pyrrhanthera exigua (Kirk) Zotov]