Restio hystrix Mast.

Plants tufted, 0.5-1.0 m high; spreading rhizomes absent. Culms branching, round, solid or with a small central cavity, smooth or finely rugulose, 1.8-4.0 mm in diam. Leaf sheaths closely convolute, > 1 per culm, persistent. Male inflorescences 2-50 spikelets per culm; spathes persistent, shorter than spikelets, cartilaginous. Female inflorescences 2-20 spikelets per culm; spathes shorter than spikelets, persistent, cartilaginous. Spikelets sessile or pedicellate, 7-25 mm long; several to many-flowered. Bracts taller than flowers, awn < 1/2 length of bract body. Ovary unilocular; styles 2, plumose, white, pink or red, stylopodium present. Flowering time July-Sept. Fruit a dehiscent capsule.