Flora of New Zealand Series

Perennial. Stems sprawling; old lvs deciduous. Lvs tufted at tips of stems, usually entire, rarely pinnate, oblanceolate-spathulate, 5-10 × 0.5-1.5 cm, tapered to long petiole; upper surface usually glabrous or rarely bristly, dark green; lower surface with dense appressed white tomentum, with glabrous midrib; margins glabrous or with minute denticles, revolute. Capitula solitary; peduncles 5-10-(15) cm long. Involucre 10-15 mm diam., campanulate. Involucral bracts in 2-3 rows, glabrous or with minute denticles on margins; free portion narrowly triangular, < fused portion. Ligules bright orange with dark white-centred blotch at base, 2-2.5 cm long. Disc florets dark or orange. Achenes not seen.

N.: Northland (Mokohinau Is and Piha), Bay of Plenty (Ohope), Wellington; S.: Marlborough (Conway Flat), Canterbury (Banks Peninsula and Kaitorete Spit).

South Africa 1940

Roadsides and coastal waste land, usually in sandy soils; a garden discard persisting in scattered localities.

FL Jan-May.

Although mature achenes have not been seen in N.Z. specimens, the ovary is villous with stiff white hairs 4-6 mm long and the pappus scales are linear and brownish.