Flora of New Zealand Series

Erect, usually hispid, annual or biennial up to 30-(60) cm high. Basal lvs 2-3-pinnate; ultimate segments ovate, pinnatisect into linear lobes; stem lvs similar but reduced. Umbels simple or compound, irregular; rays 1-7-(9); bracts (0)-2-5, linear or pinnatisect; bracteoles 0-5, simple, linear. Fls 1-8-(10), white or tinged red, c. 1 mm diam. Fr. ellipsoid, dark brown, 3-5 mm long; primary ribs sparsely to moderately ciliate; secondary ribs spinous; spines capped at tips.

N.; S.; Ch.

Also indigenous to Australia.

Lowland open places, rare and local.

FL Sep-Feb.

The native Daucus is easily distinguished from D. carota by its smaller size and irregular umbels. Recent work in Australia has shown that plants known under D. glochidiatus there fall into several distinct groups which should probably be treated as spp. (J. Thompson, pers. comm.). N.Z. plants are fairly uniform and match some Australian plants. It is likely that when D. glochidiatus sens. lat. is revised, the name D. glochidiatus sens. strict. will still apply to N.Z. plants.