Juncus imbricatus Laharpe

Perennial, stiff clumps to 70 cm high. Stems bearing a few basal sheaths and one or two basal leaves. Leaves < stems, very slender, wiry, channelled, reddish-tinged, auricles short. Inflorescence 2.5–6cm long, sparingly branched, usually much overtopped by rigid leaf-like subtending bract. Flowers several, large, evenly spaced along branches. Tepals 4–5.5 mm long, all ± equal, acute, appressed to mature capsules. Stamens 6. Capsule 6–6.5 mm long, much > tepals, ovoid, somewhat tapering to blunt top, bright shining reddish-brown.

[From: Healy and Edgar (1980) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 3.]