Restio distractus Mast.

Plants mat-forming or tangled, 0.2-0.4 m high; stolons present, rhizomes absent. Culms branching, solid or with a small central cavity, finely warty, green; terminal parts of culms flexuose, axils of branches hairy. Leaf sheaths > 1 per culm, persistent, closely or loosely wrapped around culms. Male inflorescences with 2-10 spikelets per culm; spathes persistent, shorter than or as high as spikelets. Female inflorescences: spikelets (1)2-5, globose, 6-10 mm long; spathes shorter than spikelets, persistent, coriaceous or cartilaginous. Ovary unilocular; styles 2, plumose, white, stylopodium present. Flowering time Oct.-Dec. Fruit a dehiscent capsule.