Juncus antarcticus

Dwarf, cushion-forming perennial with well-developed slender rhizomes and stolons. Culms erect, filiform, 0.5–5 cm high, shorter than to slightly exceeding the leaves, smooth. Leaves cauline, the older ones persisting and turning yellow-brown; blade spreading, channelled near base, becoming flat towards the acute to obtuse apex, linear-subulate, to c. 3 cm long and 2 mm wide, generally stiff; sheath margins tapered into the blades; auricles absent. Inflorescence a 1–5-flowered cluster, expanding to c. 3–7 mm diam. in fruit; bracts membranous, not exceeding the flowers; prophylls absent. Tepals tinged dark reddish-brown; the outer 2.7–4 mm long, acuminate; inner subequal to outer, obtuse to acuminate; stamens 3, rarely 6, anthers 0.5–1 mm long. Capsules reddish-brown in upper part, ovoid, 2–3 mm long, shortly mucronate, subequal to tepals; seeds 0.4–0.5 mm long, with very fine longitudinal and transverse ridges discernible only at high magnification, minutely apiculate at one or both ends. Flowers and fruits recorded in Jan.