Flora of New Zealand Series

Erect herb arising from a short, thick rhizome; stem stout, 60-80-(120) cm high at flowering, often much-branched, moderately to densely pubescent and usually with scattered longer hairs. Lvs both basal and cauline; basal lvs with petiole up to 20 cm long, grooved and pilose; blade ovate, ± lyrate, up to 30 cm long, imparipinnate with (2)-3-6 pairs of major leaflets often separated by reduced leaflets, sparsely hairy above, hairy below especially along veins, with margins 2-serrate to serrate and laciniate; terminal leaflet (3)-6-12 cm long and deeply incised. Cauline lvs decreasing in size upwards, with ± ovate-orbicular dissected stipules, the uppermost lvs ternate or 3-5-lobed, sometimes merely 2-serrate. Infl. a few-flowered, loose cyme; peduncles densely pubescent and usually with scattered longer hairs, up to 12 cm long. Epicalyx segments ± elliptic-lanceolate, c. 2-3 mm long. Sepals ovate-triangular, c. 5-7 mm long, hairy, reflexed at fruiting. Petals (5)-6-10 mm long, rounded, yellow. Achenes c. 150-250, hairy, forming a cylindric-globose head 14-20 × 12-20 mm; distal part of style deciduous; proximal part of style persistent, hooked, glabrous or with scattered hairs at base.

N.: near Lake Waikaremoana and Lake Rotoaira, Raetihi and Wellington City (Wellington); S.: Nelson (Lake Rotoiti and Golden Downs), Marlborough (Clarence Valley), inland and lowland Canterbury, Otago (Kakanui R.), Southland (Lake Mavora).

Europe, Asia, N. America 1852

Disturbed sites including modified, open woodland, gullies, streamsides and damp wasteland.

FL Nov-Feb FT Dec-May.

Hooker (1864) established G. urbanum L.   var. strictum for plants of Australasia (previously recorded as G. magellanicum) distinguished from the type var. by a more robust habit and larger fls. Comparison with G. allepicum suggests that most N.Z. plants are better referred to that sp. Both G. allepicum and G. urbanum belong to a widespread and somewhat indeterminate complex. N.Z. plants generally occur in disturbed habitats and are of sporadic distribution, suggesting that they are naturalised rather than indigenous.