Flora of New Zealand Series

Erect, glabrous annual herb, up to c. 1 m tall. Stems sparingly branched above to form infl. Basal and lower cauline lvs 0 or few at flowering, opposite, short-petiolate, 1-2-pinnate, 5-10 cm long; leaflets linear to linear- lanceolate, 1-3-(10) mm wide; upper cauline lvs present, becoming smaller, and with narrower leaflets. Capitula 2.5-4 cm diam., solitary or in loose cymes, pedunculate. Outer involucral bracts green to brown with membranous margin, triangular to subulate, 2-3 mm long, much < 1/2 length of inner bracts; inner bracts with dark lined centre and membranous margins, ovate-triangular. Receptacular scales linear-lanceolate. Ray florets usually 7-9, yellow with reddish brown basal blotch. Disc florets numerous; corolla dark red, 4-toothed. Achenes not seen.

N.: known from one area only, Hutt R., near Upper Hutt.

W., C., and S. U.S.A. 1958

Stony roadside and riverbed.

FL Mar.

This sp. has escaped from cultivation and established in this one area where Healy, A. J., Trans. Proc. N.Z. Inst. 85 : 535 (1958), noted that it had persisted for some years.