Flora of New Zealand Series

Erect shrub up to c. 2 m tall. Stems covered in a tomentum of reddish purple-striped eglandular hairs at least above. Petiole tomentose, c. 5-10 cm long; lamina tomentose on veins on lower surface, otherwise with short hairs and sessile glands, ovate, acute to acuminate, denticulate to serrate, 11-25 × 8-25 cm; uppermost lvs smaller. Capitula c. 10 mm diam., many to numerous; peduncles tomentose. Inner involucral bracts ovate- to oblong-lanceolate, hairy near apex, c. 7-8 mm long; outer bracts from c. 3 mm long. Florets yellow tinged purplish, obscured by long filiform reddish purple stigmas. Achenes cylindric, slightly wider toward apex, dark brown, glabrous, 1.5-2 mm long.

N.: Otaika Valley (near Whangarei), vicinity of Auckland City, Waitakere Range, Lower Hutt.

Mexico 1984

Forest margins and clearings.

FL Nov-Jan.

B. sordida is only locally established as an escape from cultivation. It has previously been known in N.Z. as Eupatorium sordidum.