Xyris rubella Malme

Small annual, forming loose tufts.. Leaves distichous, 2–6 (–14) cm. long, 1–1.5 mm. wide, glabrous, rugulose, apex solid, acuminate to aristate.. Peduncle 8–20(–30) cm. long, 0.5 mm. in diameter, rugulose, 2-winged, particularly toward the apex; spike subglobose, ± 3 mm. in diameter; lowest bracts broadly elliptic, 1.3 mm. long, 1 mm. wide; sterile bracts broadly spathulate, ± 1.8 mm. long, 1.3 mm. wide, apiculate, smooth, vinous-red to reddish-brown; fertile bracts broadly elliptic, ± 2.7 mm. long, 2.4 mm. wide, keeled, pale red-brown with a darker keel, smooth, apiculate.. Lateral sepals arcuate, folded, pale brown, 2.2 mm. long, 0.5 mm. wide, apiculate, keel smooth; corolla-tube 2 mm. long, lobes suborbicular, ± 1.8 mm. in diameter.. Stamens 0.8 mm. long; filament 0.4 mm. long; anthers 0.4 mm. long, divergent at the base; staminodes bifurcate, ± 0.5 mm. long.. Ovary obovoid, 1.5 mm. long; style 1 mm. long, branches 1 mm. long; stigma branches recurved.. Seeds ellipsoid, 0.3 mm. long, 0.15 mm. in diameter, with 12–14 longitudinal ridges.. Fig. 1/19.

In seasonal flushes on rock outcrops and sand-dunes.