Restio helenae Mast.

Plants mat-forming, 0.5-0.8 m high; stolons present. Culms sparingly branched, round (not compressed), solid or with a small central cavity; branch axils glabrous or hairy; clusters of sterile branches at nodes of fertile branches absent. Leaf sheaths > 1 per culm, persistent, closely convolute. Male inflorescences with 2-20 spikelets per culm; spathes persistent, shorter than spikelets, cartilaginous. Female inflorescences with 1-5 spikelets per culm; spathes shorter than spikelets, persistent, cartilaginous; spikelets sessile, 7-25 mm long; with several to many flowers. Bracts taller than flowers, awns minute or absent. Ovary unilocular with 2 plumose styles joined at base to form a stylopodium. Flowering time Feb.-Apr. Fruit a dehiscent capsule.