Geum urbanum L.
(C.J.W., D.R.G.)
Erect herb arising from a short rhizome; stem moderately stout to slender, 30-40-(60) cm high at flowering, branched, moderately to densely clothed in long and short hairs. Lvs both basal and cauline; basal lvs with petiole up to 18 cm long, grooved and pilose; blade ovate to obovate, up to 14 cm long, usually pinnately 3-foliolate, sometimes imparipinnate with 2-3 pairs of major leaflets, hairy above, hairy below especially on veins; margins 2-serrate to irregularly crenate-serrate and lobed; terminal leaflet up to 6-(10) cm long, 3-5-lobed or sometimes deeply incised. Cauline lvs decreasing in size upwards, with ± orbicular dissected stipules, the uppermost lvs obscurely 3-lobed and crenate; infl. a few-flowered loose cyme; peduncles densely clothed in short and long hairs, up to 14 cm long. Epicalyx segments lanceolate, 2-5 mm long. Sepals ovate-triangular, 4-7 mm long, hairy, reflexed at fruiting. Petals 3-6 mm long, rounded, yellow. Achenes c. 50-70, hairy, forming a ± globose head c. 10-12 × 6-13 mm; distal part of style deciduous; proximal part of style persistent, hooked, glabrous or with few hairs at base.
N.: Waiweka Gorge (near Gisborne); S.: N. Canterbury (Hanmer), Otago (Dunedin Town Belt).
Europe, Asia, and possibly elsewhere 1982
Damp gullies in mixed indigenous and exotic woodland and forest.
FL Aug-Feb FT Jan-May.
This sp. is similar to G. allepicum. It is easily overlooked and may well be more common. It was recorded by Given (1982) as G. virginianum L., but examination of recently collected material suggests that these plants are better referred to G. urbanum.
