Flora of New Zealand Series

Erigeron bonplandii Buchan. in T.N.Z.I. 19, 1887, 213.

Type: apparently lost; neotype: BD 6301, H. H. Allan, Bold Peak, 4500', also in Humboldt Mts.

Stout, us. sparingly branched low-growing subshrub forming loose patches up to ± 5 dm. diam.; branches long-clad in reflexed Ivs; living Ivs viscid, in ± rosulate tufts at tips of branchlets. Lamina coriac., (4)-6-10 × (1·5)-2-3 cm., elliptic-obovate to elliptic-oblong to obovate; upper surface glab., ± lustrous, midrib ± evident; lower surface clad in closely appressed white satiny tomentum, midrib dark, prominent. Apex subacute to obtuse, sts apiculate; margins sinuate, sts distantly denticulate, cuneately narrowed to broad petiole up to c. 10 mm. long. Sheath submembr., glab., 2-3 × 1·5-2 cm., veins prominent. Scape rather stout, ± compressed, glab. or nearly so, ± glandular, ± 15-30 cm. long. Bracts several, linear-subulate, lowermost up to c. 25 mm. long, ± floccose at junction with sheath. Capitula c. 3-5 cm. diam.; phyll. Up to c. 11 mm. long, thin, pale, glab. or nearly so in lower half, pilose and ciliate in upper half, glandular towards apex. Ray-florets linear, up to c. 15 mm. long, widening to 5-toothed apex; disk-florets 7-8 mm. long, ± cylindric, widening to 5-toothed mouth. Anthers without tails. Achenes cylindric, 2.5-3 mm. long, with sparse hairs on ribs, sts papillose. Pappus-hairs sordid-white, slender, ± 6·5 mm. long, very obscurely barbellate.

DIST.: S. Montane to subalpine grassland, fellfield, rocky places from near lat. 44° southwards. Original locality: Mount Bonpland, Humboldt Mts.