Flora of New Zealand Series

Tufted perennial, with stolons or rhizomes, forming patches up to c. 30 cm diam. Basal lvs of 2 forms; winter lvs entire, fistular, septate; summer lvs lanceolate to ovate or spathulate, long-petiolate, deeply spinose-serrate and often undulate, c. 5-12 cm long; non-rosette lvs similar but reduced. Capitula solitary on short peduncles lateral to stolons or arising from rosettes, 5-10 mm diam.; bracts 6-9, triangular, 5-7 mm long; bracteoles similar to bracts but smaller. Fls many, white, 1-3 mm diam.; calyx teeth c. 1 mm long. Fr. scaly.

N.: southern half; S.: to N. Otago.

Also indigenous to Australia.

Coastal gravels and lower drainage areas of Hurunui and Waimakariri Rivers.

FL Dec-Mar.

This small creeping sp. is easily distinguished from the much larger, erect naturalised spp. Critical comparison is needed with Australian plants known by the same name. Winter lvs are similar to those of Lilaeopsis; lf form changes in response to day length and submersion [Webb, C. J., New Zealand J. Bot. 22 : 29-33 (1984)].