Flora of New Zealand Series

O. andicola var. rigida Kirk Stud. Fl. 1899, 198.

Type locality: near Lake Rotoiti, Nelson. Type: W, 230, T.K. no. 763 to Kew, Jan. 1875.

Stout tufted ± pubescent rather rigid herb up to c. 2 dm. tall. Main stems arising from short, stout, rather woody stock; branches short, spreading. Basal and cauline lvs similar, on petioles c. 3 cm. long, broadly sheathing at base. Lamina ± 5 cm. long, oblong in outline, pinnate or occ. 2-pinnate, ± pubescent. Lflts pinnatisect, up to ± 10 mm. long; segs linear-lanceolate, ± apiculate. Umbels on stout, rigid, us. spreading to depressed peduncles up to c. 2 dm. long; rays 10-15, slender to rather stout, unequal, up to c. 10 mm. long, ± clad in retrorse hairs. Involucral bracts narrow-oblong, ± pubescent, ± 2 × 1 mm. Fr. glab. or pubescent, 2.5-3·5 × 1-1·5 mm., linear to very narrow-ovate in outline.

DIST.: S. Montane grassland, open and rocky places to c. lat. 46° 30', east of divide.

A somewhat polymorphic sp. requiring further analysis. Kirk (loc. cit.) indicated neither locality nor specimens, but referred his var. to "O. andicola, Hook. f., Fl. Antarc. ii, 288, t. 101". The figure, however, resembles in lflts and frs rather those of O. colensoi than O. rigida. Specimens matching the lectotype are widespread.