Xyris straminea L.A.Nilsson

Annual forming small tufts.. Leaves linear, 4–8(–15) cm. long, 1–1.5 mm. wide, glabrous, sometimes rugulose towards the base, gradually tapering to the weakly curved apex.. Peduncles up to 35 cm. long, 0.5 mm. in diameter, weakly 2-ridged particularly towards the apex, sometimes weakly rugulose on the ridges; spike narrowly ovoid to narrowly ellipsoid, 4.5–6.5 mm. long; sterile bracts 4, ovate, 3–4 mm. long, 1.7–2.5 mm. wide, acute, apiculate, pale brown or yellowish with a darker centre and apex, keeled towards the apex; fertile bracts similar but larger, ± 5 mm. long, 3 mm.. Lateral sepals oblong, strongly keeled, ± 5 mm. long, 1.2 mm. wide, pale brown, keel entire, brown, darker particularly towards the apex, third sepal membranous, forming a hood over the bud; corolla-tube ± 2 mm. long, lobes oblong, ± 2 mm. long, 1 mm.. Filament ligulate, 0.5 mm. long; anthers 0.5 mm. long; staminodes much-branched.. Style-branches ± 1 mm. long; stigmas much-branched and lobed.. Seeds broadly ellipsoid, ± 0.35 mm. long, 0.2 mm. in diameter, with 14–20 longitudinally ridges.. Fig. 1/18.

In seasonal wet flushes on rock outcrops.