Flora of New Zealand Series

Ligusticum deltoideum Cheesem. in T.N.Z.I. 14, 1882, 299.

Type locality: "Grassy slopes on Mount Arthur, Nelson, alt. 4000-5500ft." Type: A, 6615, T.F.C., 1886.

Slender herb, seldom > 15 cm. tall, with rather stout stock. Lvs on petioles (2)-5-(10) cm. long; sheath c. 8 mm. long, delicate, with short rounded ligules. Lamina 3-5-(10) × 1·5-3-(5) cm., about deltoid in outline, with 3-5 pairs of distant pinnae. Lower pair of primary pinnae up to c. 6 cm. long, including petiole, again with ± 4 pairs of pinnae. Secondary pinnae up to ± 2 cm. long; tertiary pinnae, or lobes, ± 3 pairs, distant, narrow linear-lanceolate, acute, up to ± 5 mm. long, hair-tipped; or lobes broader, deeply and finely cut, cuneately narrowed to base. Peduncles up to c. 6cm. long; bracts small, sheathing. Umbels compound, ± 3-4-(5) cm. diam; primary rays unequal, spreading, up to c. 5 cm. long; involucral bracts few, short, filiform to capillary, expanded at base. Umbellules on rays up to c. 5 mm. long; fls minute, petals white or sts flushed with pink. Fr. narrow-oblong, (3)-4-5-(7) mm. long; mericarps 5-winged.

DIST.: S. Higher montane to subalpine grassland and herbfield from lat. 41º to 41º 30'.

FL. 12-1. FT. 1-3.