Flora of New Zealand Series

Stoloniferous perennial; prostrate stems 1 mm diam., < 30 cm long; erect stems 1 mm diam., < 5 cm long. Lvs 1.5-7 cm long; stipules entire or 2-3-(5)-fid; leaflets 7-9; distal 3 leaflets suborbicular, 5-10-(20) × 4-10-(15) mm, 11-15-toothed, pale subglaucous on both surfaces, sparsely hairy on upper surface, silvery with appressed hairs on lower surface; teeth acute, not deeply incised, often red-brown; basal leaflets remote, much reduced in size or linear. Scape (5)-7-10 cm long, pilose; capitulum 7-9 mm diam. at flowering, 10-15 mm diam. (including spines) at fruiting; florets c. 40; sepals 4; stamens 2; anthers white; style 1, white; achene 1. Fr. obconic, c. 2 × 1.5 mm, hairy; spines 4, pale brown, c. 4 mm long, barbed.

S.: E. of the Main Divide from Awatere Valley to Eyre Mountains.

Endemic.

Under scrub on well drained soil, and in shade of rocks in grassland, 300-1200 m.

FL Nov-Dec FT Jan-Feb.