Flora of New Zealand Series

redroot

Hairy, erect, annual herb to c. 1 m high, but very variable in size; stems reddish towards base, densely hairy above. Petioles c. 5 cm long. Lamina 2-10 × 1-4.5 cm, ovate-lanceolate, becoming glabrous above; veins persistently hairy below; margin undulate, usually ciliate; base cuneate; apex obtuse. Infl. dense, spike-like, to c. 20 cm high, with numerous short lateral branches. Longer bracteoles 4-5 mm long, lanceolate-subulate with green keel; shorter bracteoles similar. Tepals 4-5, 2-2.7-(3) mm long, oblong; keel green; apex ± truncate to rounded and cuspidate. Fr. broadly ellipsoid, circumscissile, with rounded apex, included within persistent perianth except for stigma apices. Seed 1-1.3 mm diam., suborbicular or broadly ovoid, dark brown.

N.; S.: widespread in the South Id and probably in at least some parts of the North Id.

Tropical America 1869

Waste places, cultivated ground.

FL Dec-Feb.

Poisonous (Connor 1977).

A. retroflexus is related to A. powellii and often confused with it. The best character to distinguish the 2 spp. is the shape of the apex of the ♀ tepals. Also, the general appearance of the infl. of A. retroflexus differs from that of A. powellii, because in the former the short lateral branches are densely arranged up the main spike whereas in A. powellii lateral branches are usually all towards the base. Unfortunately, this infl. character is not of much use for depauperate plants in very poor soil.