Flora of New Zealand Series

Stoloniferous perennial; prostrate stems c. 3 mm diam., < 1 m long; erect stems 2-3 mm diam., < 15 cm long. Lvs 2.5-12 cm long; stipules entire to 4-fid; leaflets 9-15, oblong, 6-30 × 3-13 mm, 8-20-toothed, shining green, glabrous and rugulose on upper surface, whitish and hairy on lower surface; teeth with margins recurved. Scape 7-18 cm long, pilose; capitulum c. 10 mm diam. at flowering, < 4 cm diam. (including spines) at fruiting; florets c. 80-90-(115); sepals 4; stamens 2; anthers white; style 1, white; achene 1. Fr. obconic, c. 5 × 2 mm, hairy; spines 4, red or pale brown, 10-20 mm long, barbed, frequently with stunted subsidiary spines on side of fr.

N.: Wellington Harbour; S.: Otago Peninsula, Bluff; St.: Mason Bay.

Also indigenous to S.E. Australia.

Coastal sand dunes.

FL Oct-Dec FT Dec-Apr.