Densely caespitose, of low to medium stature (7) – 9–17–(43) cm; with stiff, semi-pungent, pale greyish green leaves, their sheaths often imbricate and of ± equal length, usually overtopped by densely villous culms bearing dense cylindrical panicles; branching intravaginal, sometimes extravaginal at base. Leaf-sheath abaxially glabrous, scabrid, pubescent or rarely ± villous. Ligule 0.3-0.8-(1.6) mm, rim-like or truncate, sometimes erose, ciliate, abaxially glabrous or hairy. Leaf-blade 1.2-9-(21) cm × (0.5)-0.6-3.2-(5.5) nun, usually folded, involute, or convolute, or sometimes flat, linear-lanceolate or narrower, abaxially minutely scabrid to densely pubescent or sometimes villous, with midrib often prominent below, adaxially scabrid or pubescent on nerves, margin with minute prickle-teeth or longer hairs, apex hooded, acute to acuminate. Culms (1)-4-27-(35) cm, pale green to purple, sparsely to densely pubescent to villous, very rarely glabrous. Panicle densely contracted, usually cylindrical (to spiciform) occasionally interrupted especially at base, (1.3)-2.6-5.0-(7.3) × (0.3)-0.8- 1.5(-2.2) cm, with erect, pubescent branches appressed to rachis. Spikelets (3.8)-4.3-5.2-(6.9) mm, 2-3-flowered, pale green, purplish, or golden. Glumes subequal, sometimes scabrid above and on keel; lower 3.5-3.8-(4.8) mm, 1-(3)-nerved, oblong, with prickle-teeth on upper ½ to 2/3 of keel, upper (3.2)-4.0-4.5-(6.1) mm, 3-nerved, ovate, with prickle-teeth on upper 2/3 of keel. Lemmas 3.5- 6.0 mm, 3-5-nerved, oblong, narrow obovate, or lanceolate, acute, acuminate, or obtuse, entire to mucronate or shortly awned; awn apical or subapical, to 1.5-(3.2) mm, tips sometimes minutely bidentate. Palea 3.0-5.2 mm. Callus hairs 0.3- 0.6 mm. Rachilla 0.8-1.0-(1.4) mm with hairs to 0.5 mm; prolongation c. 1.5 mm with hairs to 0.3 mm. Lodicules (0.7)-0.8-1.2 mm, ±bifid, erose. Anthers 0.6-1.1 mm. Gynoecium: ovary c. 0.7 mm; stigma-styles c. 1 mm. Caryopsis 2-2 .5 × 0.6- 0.7 mm. Endemic.

Extremely variable, slender, occasionally lush, tufted or very shortly rhizomatous perennial, of low to medium stature, 4-46-(82) cm tall, with leaves varying from greyish green to green and from tightly inrolled to flat, with erect culms and usually spiciform panicles, sometimes greatly overtoppin g leaves; branching extravaginal. Leaf-sheath abaxially glabrous, scabrid, pubescent or villous. Ligule membranous, truncate, often erose and/or somewhat ciliate, (0.2)0.3-1.3 mm; collar often thickened and paler on edges, often with long hairs on upper margins. Leaf-blade flat, folded or involute, linear to ± filiform, 3-15-(30) cm × 1-1.5 mm diam., or up to 2-(4) mm wide, apex acute, hooded, margins ± scabrid, often with long hairs below, abaxially glabrous, scabrid, pubescent or villous, adaxially ridged, scabrid to densely villous, especially on nerves. Culm to 41-(66) cm, entirely glabrous or frequently minutely pubescent below panicle, often scabrid to villous above and/or below nodes, very occasionally pubescent throughout. Panicle (2.0)-3.0-16 × 0.5- 1.2 cm, spiciform or occasionally lanceolate, sometimes interrupted, with appressed-ascending branches; branches and pedicels glabrous, scabrid or pubescent to villous; bract subtending panicle glabrous, or often tipped by long hairs, or absent. Spikelets (3 .8)–4.5–5.8–(7) mm, 2–3–(5)-flowered, light green, often purplish to brownish. Glumes subequal, membranous with wide hyaline margins above, oblong-lanceolate to elliptic; lower 3.0– 4.8 mm, 1–3-nerved, upper 3.2–5.2 mm, 3–4-nerved. Lemmas (3.0)–3.8–4.7–(5.5) mm, 3–5-nerved, oblong, narrow obovate, or lanceolate, acute, acuminate or occasionally obtuse, entire, mucronate or shortly awned; awn apical or subapical, to 1.5–(3.2) mm, tips sometimes minutely bidentate. Palea 3.5–4.3 mm, recurved from base, with prickle teeth on upper 2/3–¾ of keel . Callus hairs (0.1)–0.2–0.5(-0.7) mm. Rachilla 0.6–1.5–(1.9) mm, with hairs 0.2–1.4 mm; prolongation c. 1 mm, with short (0.3 mm) hairs. Lodicules 0.7–1.1 mm. Anthers 0.8–2.5 mm. Gynoecium: ovary 0.5–0.8 mm; stigma-styles 1–1.4 mm. Caryopsis c. 2 × 0.4 mm. Endemic.

Tufted or rhizomatous perennials; branching extravaginal and intravaginal. Leaf-sheath glabrous to pubescent, or scabrid; margins hyaline. Ligule membranous, truncate to subacute, entire, erose or somewhat ciliate. Leaf-blade flat, folded, involute or convolute. Culms erect, sometimes geniculate at base. Inflorescence a contracted panicle, spiciform, cylindrical, or sometimes lanceolate, occasionally interrupted, especially near base; branches and pedicels glabrous, scabrid or pubescent. Spikelets 2- 3-(5)-flowered, laterally compressed, third and upper florets reduced, or very reduced and infertile; disarticulating above glumes and between florets. Glumes subequal, membranous, with hyaline margins above, keeled, not awned; lower 1-nerved, shorter and narrower than upper, upper 3-nerved. Lemma membranous with hyaline margins above, (1)-3-5-nerved, entire, or mucronate, or with a short apical or subapical, inconspicuous, usually straight awn. Palea hyaline, shining, gaping when mature, 2- keeled, apex notched. Callus short, hairy. Rachill a hairy. Flowers hermaphrodite, chasmogamous. Lodicules 2, hyaline, bifid. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous; styles free to base; stigmas plumose. Caryopsis oblong-fusiform, slightly laterally compressed; hilum short; endosperm liquid.

Slender, low-growing, to 25–(36) cm, with fine rhizomes, leaves often reddish purple, diverging at an angle of c. 30°, and erect panicles at maturity wel l overtopping leaves; branching extravaginal, often intravaginal above; sheaths persistent and becoming dark brown. Leaf-sheath strongly ribbed, abaxially puberulous between nerves, pale straw to purple-suffused. Ligule truncate to subacute, 0.6–1.1 mm, ciliate. Leaf-blade 3.2–9.5–(17) cm × 0.3–1.2 mm, usually folded or involute, or flat, linear to filiform, abaxially glabrous, very rarely pubescent, adaxially strongly ribbed, nerves puberulous, margin finely scabrid. Culms 5.8–20–(30) cm, often geniculate at base, erect, glabrous, or rarely pubescent or villous, stramineous to reddish purple. Panicle 2–5–(7) × 0.3–1.0 cm, spiciform, ± interrupted; rachis, branches, and pedicels pubescent, rarely glabrous. Spikelets (3.6)–4.2–6.5 mm, 2–(3)-flowered, bright green, noticeably banded with purple and golden brown, later stramineous. Glumes subequal, lanceolate to elliptic-ovate, acute or obtuse, margin often minutely toothed above; lower 3.5–4.1 mm, 1–3- nerved, narrower than upper, keel scabrid in upper 1/3, upper 4.0–4.2 mm, 3–5–(7)-nerved. Lemma 4.0– 4.6 mm, elliptic, often minutely scabrid above, entire or mucronate or shortly apically awned or with a short, slender, straight, subapical awn to 2 mm, tip entire or minutely bidentate. Palea 4.0–4.2 mm, keels with prickle-teeth in upper 2/3 ; palea of lower floret < lemma, palea of upper floret = lemma. Callus hairs 0.2–0.4 mm. Rachilla 0.8–1.2 mm with hairs to 0.9 mm; prolongation to 1.5 mm with hairs to 1.0 mm. Lodicules (0.5)–1.0–1.2 mm. Anthers (0.5)–0.9–1.7 mm. Gynoecium: ovary 0.8–1 mm; stigma-styles c. 1 mm. Caryopsis c. 2.0 × 0.7 mm. Endemic.

Gramen lepidum saepe rubens, rhizomatibus tenuibus, innovationibus extravaginalibus, foliis planis ascendentibus, culmis basim geniculatis paniculisque angustis interruptis spiciformibus praeditum ; K. novozelandicae affine, differt autem rhizomatibus longioribus gracilioribus et palea floris secundi lemma plus minusve aequanti. Incolit solum udum in locis gramineis et in lacunarum marginibus.