Flora of New Zealand Series

L. racemosa Desv. var. ulophylla Buch. in Öst. bot. Z.  48,  1898,  245.

Original localities: "Albertown in der Nähe des Lake Wanaka, Südinsel; leg. Don. Petrie. Castle Hill District, Southern Canterbury Alps, 2,200 feet; Dec. 1894 leg. L. Cockayne (hb. berol.)." Type: WELT, 12668, Castle Hill, near cave, 2,200 ft, L.C. Dec., 1893.

Forming woolly-lvd, cushion-like patches. Lvs (1)–3–7–(15) cm. × 0.5–1.5–(2.5) mm., much < flowering stems, gradually tapering to an acute tip, margins incurved, upper ⅔ of lamina covered on margins and abaxial surface with a dappled coating of tangled, white, woolly hairs. Flowering stems (5)–9–20–(25) cm. long. Infl. a cylindrical or almost spherical spike-like head up to 2 cm. long. Fls 1.5–2 mm. long; tepals dark brown with broad, white, membr. margins. Stamens 3–(4–6). Capsule ± = tepals, dark brown to black. 2n = 44 (Hair), 48 (Nordenskiöld).

DIST.: S. From c lat. 42º southwards but uncommon between lat. 42º and 43º.

On wind-eroded morainic and river terraces, in shingly ground, on dry bare ground or in grassland, from 300–1,800 m. altitude.

The thick tangle of white hairs on the back of the lf makes this a most distinct sp.