Leaves with conspicuous midrib but no distinctive secondary veins; midrib not continuing into leaf sheath; leaf sheath never white-waxy
Leaves with conspicuous midrib and secondary veins between midrib and leaf edge; midrib continuing into leaf sheath; leaf sheath white-waxy
Leaf blades droop from just above sheath, most leaf tips on ground; leaf sheaths and culms usually densely hairy on mature plants; flower heads purple at first, fading to dirty brown, emerging from mid-January to early March; all plants female
Leaf blades erect and arching; most leaf tips above ground, leaf sheath and culms glabrous or sparsely hairy; flower heads white, cream, pink, or purplish, emerging from early March to late April; plants female or hermaphrodite
Leaf-sheath glabrous; flowers on separate plants all bisexual (stamens and pistils) or only female (stamens still present, but sterile)
Leaf-sheath with long hairs, all flowers bisexual (stamens and pistils)
Midrib not conspicuously long hairy above ligule
Midrib conspicuously long hairy above ligule
Leaves 1.5-4 cm wide with scattered long hairs on adaxial (upper) surface; flower heads nodding with long pendant branches; glumes 10-20 mm long; widespread in North Island
Leaves 1-2 cm wide, long hairs absent on adaxial (upper) surface; flower heads narrow with shorter, stiffer branches; glumes 16-35 mm; widespread in South Island, Stewart Island
Leaves very scabrid on margins and upper third of leaf; hairs above ligule spread across blade; flower head usually erect; glumes 15-24 mm
Leaves only slightly scabrid on margins and upper third of leaf; hairs above ligule confined mainly to midrib; flower head erect or nodding; glumes 22-50 mm long