Wīwī Explained

Wīwī is a common name for several species of New Zealand rushes and sedges whose individual plants grow as a clump with wire-like stems. The name wīwī has been adopted in English from the Māori language.

• Ficinia nodosa, knobby club-rush, a sedge native to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa
• Juncus australis, austral rush, native to New Zealand and Australia
• Juncus edgariae, Edgar's rush, endemic to New Zealand
• Juncus kraussii, sea rush, native to New Zealand, Australia, South America and southern Africa
• Juncus pallidus, giant rush, native to New Zealand and Australia
• Juncus sarophorus, broom rush, native to New Zealand and Australia

The name wīwī is sometimes used for a tussock grass with narrow wire-like leaves, though wī is more usual for this.

• Poa cita, silver tussock, a tussock grass endemic to New Zealand