Flora of New Zealand Series

Perennial with woody rootstock < 1 cm diam.; branches ascending or spreading, 1-3 mm diam., 5-15 cm long. Lvs 2-7 cm long, glabrous; stipules entire or 3-(5)-fid; leaflets 9-13, obovate, 4-6 × 6-9 mm, 7-9-toothed, bright green and shining on upper surface, subglaucous on lower surface; teeth deeply incised, often red. Scape 3-9 cm long, glabrous; capitulum 7-9 mm diam. at flowering, < 15 mm diam. at fruiting; florets > 100; sepals 4; stamens 2; anthers usually white, very rarely red; style 1, white; achene 1. Fr. obtriangular by the enlargement of 2 opposite wings, c. 5 × 4 mm, glabrous; spines 2, not barbed, enclosed in wings.

S.: common in Marlborough and N. Canterbury to Torlesse Range, local south to N. Otago.

Endemic.

Greywacke mountain slopes in stones and fine shingle at scree margins, 600-1750 m.

FL Dec-Jan FT Jan-Mar.

A single collection from Ida Range (Otago) is unusual in having red rather than white anthers.