Flora of New Zealand Series

B. thomsonii var. membranifolia Kirk Stud. Fl. 1899, 261.

Type locality: Mount Arthur Plateau, Nelson, 4000 ft. Type: A, 9385, T. F. Cheeseman Jan. 1886. Lectotype of Davis loc. cit. 1949, 100.

Plant 8-10-(20) cm. tall, similar in habit to  var. thomsonii but branches fewer from ± horizontal stock; glandular-pubescence scant. Radical lvs thin, sparingly ciliolate on margins; lamina obovate, sub-pinnatifidly rather shallowly lobed, 3-4 cm. × 15-20 mm.; lobes ovate-triangular, ± deeply cut, to subrotund, sts apiculate. Petioles broad, up to 4 cm. × 4-5 mm. Cauline lvs few; lower similar to radical, smaller; upper narrow-obovate, entire or subentire. Scapes slender to rather stout, up to c. 15 cm. long, nude or with 1-3 bracts, lower Iflike, upper sub-entire. Capitula 7-10-(15) mm. diam.; phyll. glab. or nearly so, oblong, ± 4 mm. long; margins scarious. Ray-florets c. 7·5 mm. long, white. Achenes narrow-obovoid, glandular-pubescent, 2.5-3 × 0.75-1 mm.; margins slightly thickened. Pappus of distinct but us. minute bristles.

DIST.: S. Montane to subalpine herbfield, N.W. Nelson to Arthur Pass.