Flora of New Zealand Series

G. magellanicum Comm. ex Pers. Syn. Pl. 1, 1805, 57.

Stock stout, woody; branches several, erect, up to 6 dm. or more tall, lfy, pubescent, stout. Lvs oblong-obovate in outline, up to 4 dm. long; terminal lflt sparsely hairy, c. 9 cm. long, deeply 3-5-lobed, lobes sts lobulate, crenate-apiculate, veins evident. Upper lateral lflts similar, lower in alternately larger and smaller pairs; stipules prominent, lfy. Upper cauline lvs small, uppermost often entire. Peduncles stout, corymbosely arranged, c. 7 cm. long. Fls often ∞, up to 2 cm. diam.; calyx-lobes pubescent, ovate, c. 5 mm. long, acute to acuminate, reflexed in fruiting stage; petals us. 5, obovate, yellow, c. 7·5 mm. long. Receptacle villous. Achenes very ∞, forming heads c. 1·5 cm. long, spreading to recurved, stipitate, c. 5 mm. long, subturgid, villous; styles c. 5 mm. long, glab. on upper parts, hooked at tips, final portion deciduous.

DIST.: N., S. Occ. from lat. 37° southwards, lowland and lower montane.

FL. 11-1. FT. 2. Also in Asia and Southern Hemisphere generally.

How far the forms of G. urbanum found in N.Z. are indigenous and how far introduced is uncertain. I have not seen any plants in other than much modified habitats. Closer study is necessary.

Hooker says of his var. strictum : "It differs from the European G. urbanum chiefly in the stronger habit and larger petals." Kirk (Stud. Fl. 1899, 128) and Cheeseman (Man. N.Z. Fl. 1925, 502) make similar remarks.