Flora of New Zealand Series

Stoloniferous herb; decumbent stems 1-1.7 mm diam., < 30 cm long; erect stems < 5 cm long. Lvs 0.9-13 cm long, the length c. 6× width; stipules entire or 3-(5)-fid, with glandular hairs on margin of sheath; leaflets 11-15, obovate or deltoid, 3-10 × 2.5-8 mm, with 5-8, obtuse, deeply incised teeth, glaucous on both surfaces, glabrous or sparsely hairy on veins and margin of lower surface. Scape 5-11 cm long at flowering, 9-30 cm long at fruiting, red, glabrous; capitulum 6-9 mm diam. at flowering, < 15 mm diam. (including spines) at fruiting; florets c. 80-100; sepals 4; stamens 2; anthers dark red; style 1, dark red; achene 1. Fr. obconic, c. 3 × 1.5-2 mm, glabrous or sparsely hairy, with dilated ribs; spines 4, red, 2-4 mm long, barbed, with minute spines occasionally present between main ones.

S.: Montane to alpine herbfield and stony ground.

Endemic.

FL Dec-Jan FT Jan-Mar.