Flora of New Zealand Series

Rhizomatous perennial; stems mat-forming, c. 1.2 mm diam., < 15 cm long, soon rooting and covered by soil; erect branchlets < 4 cm long. Lvs 1.5-7 cm long; stipules entire, linear; leaflets 11-15, broad-obovate or orbicular-emarginate, 3-7 × 3-7 mm, with 7-12 obtuse teeth, dull grey-glaucous, purplish brown, or pale olive green on both surfaces, with veins and margins of lower surface hairy. Scape 1-5-(7) cm long, pilose; capitulum 4-6 mm diam. at flowering, < 2.5 cm diam. (including spines) at fruiting; florets c. 20; sepals 4; stamens 2; anthers white; styles 2, white; achenes 2. Fr. turbinate, c. 2 × 2 mm, sparsely hairy, with 4 shoulders rounded and not armed, or bearing 1-4 stout red spines < 1.3 cm long and lacking barbs or hairs at tip.

N.: Moawhango R. (Kaimanawa Mountains), Puketiritiri (E. Kaweka Range), Rangitikei R. (N. Ruahine Range); S.: common in eastern areas, infrequent on the west coast.

Endemic.

Montane grassland and riverbeds, open ground.

FL Nov-Jan FT Jan-Apr.

South Id plants bearing spines were named A. microphylla Hook. f.   var. robusta by Allan (1961), but are not accepted here as distinct. A. inermis is variable in foliage colour, scape length, and development of spines on the fr. A. microphylla var. pallideolivacea Bitter, accepted by Allan (1961), is included in this complex.

Hybrids between A. inermis and A. anserinifolia form conspicuous patches, bearing red, barbed spines on the frs.