Flora of New Zealand Series

Type locality: Kelly's Hill, Otira. Type: W, 2136, D. Petrie, Jan. 1893.

Herb forming large tufts, lf-sheaths densely imbricate around stem. Lamina acute to acuminate, rigid, coriac., ± (15)-20-35-(40) × 1-2 cm., narrow linear-lanceolate to subensiform; upper surface longitudinally ribbed, yellow-green, with a broad yellow band lateral to midrib, clad in delicate greyish pellicle; lower surface densely clad in appressed satiny tomentum, midrib stiff, broad, prominent; margins entire, recurved, gradually narrowed to broad sheath 7-10 cm. long, with ∞ nerves, glab. within, clad on back with white floccose deciduous tomentum. Scape stout to rather slender, c. 25 cm. long, clad in white floccose tomentum; bracts ∞, linear, ascending, acute to acuminate, lower up to c. 5 cm. long. Capitula (3)-4-(5) cm. diam.; phyll. up to 17 mm. long, pale brown, glab., ± scarious. Ray-florets ∞, c. 16 mm. long; tube filiform, limb narrow-obovate; disk-florets glab., ∞, narrow-funnelform, 7-8 mm. long, teeth narrow-triangular, c. 5 mm. long. Achenes compressed-cylindric, 5-6 mm. long, ribbed, calloused at base, with very fine white ascending hairs on ribs. Pappus-hairs very slender, up to 7 mm. long, white, hardly barbellate.

DIST.: S. Montane to subalpine grassland, herbfield from c. lat. 41° southwards.