Flora of New Zealand Series

Mercury Bay weed

Prostrate herb, generally with appressed, silky hairs, creeping and forming mats to 50-(70) cm diam. Petioles occasionally to 10 cm long. Lamina very variable, (0.5)-10-30-(40) mm diam., orbicular to reniform, often with upper and lower surfaces equally densely hairy; base cordate with very shallow to narrow and deep sinus; apex usually rounded, less commonly emarginate. Peduncles to c. 5 cm long, usually much less; bracts at base linear, inconspicuous. Calyx 3-4 mm long; lobes oblong to elliptic, ± acute. Corolla 4-6 mm diam., c. = to calyx, greenish yellow. Anthers yellowish. Capsule 1.5-2.5 mm diam., globose or nearly so, hairy, < to almost = calyx.

N.; S.; Ch.

Probably only indigenous to the S. Pacific region, Australia and Malesia.

Grassland, open places from coastal cliffs and ledges to montane areas, commonly in forest clearings and margins, scrub, pastures and crops.

FL Sep-Feb.

Records of D. repens elsewhere, especially in America, result from confusion with D. micrantha and other spp.