Flora of New Zealand Series

fleabane

Erect, rhizomatous perennial, up to 50-(70) cm tall. Stems densely hairy when young, becoming glabrous below, much-branched but usually only above. Lower lvs scabrid on upper surface, tomentose and sparsely glandular on lower, elliptic to ovate-elliptic, apetiolate and amplexicaul (lowermost lvs petiolate but withered at flowering), acute, remotely serrate, 3-5 × 1-2 cm; uppermost lvs smaller, often ovate-triangular and auriculate. Capitula c. 2 cm diam., in corymbs of 1-4. Outer involucral bracts herbaceous with membranous margins, linear-lanceolate, hairy and glandular, 3.5-6 mm long; inner bracts similar but membranous and only glandular. Ray florets numerous; ligules yellow, 3-5.5-(7) mm long. Disc yellow. Achenes with short antrorse hairs on the 10-12 narrow ribs, obovoid, 1-1.2 mm long; pappus scales c. 0.2 mm long; pappus hairs minutely barbellate, narrow at apex, 2.5-3.5 mm long.

N.: Koutu Loop (near Opononi, Northland), vicinity of Dannevirke, Kumeroa, Waitahora, and Woodville (S. Hawke's Bay).

Europe, N. Africa 1947

Pasture, waste places, locally common.

FL Jan-Apr.