Flora of New Zealand Series

Stout perennial up to ± 2 m. tall, with stout stems, woody towards base and beset with sharp prickles. Lvs on stout petioles up to 8 cm. long; lamina 5-10 × 3-8 cm., broad-cordate to suborbicular, sts truncate, shallowly ± 3-5-lobed, scabrous, crenate-dentate. Fls 5-8 cm. diam., in terminal racemes, on short pedicels. Bracts lanceolate to 3-fid. Bracteoles 10, linear, ± 15 mm. long, hispid. Calyx densely clad in long stiff hairs, lobes lanceolate, ± 10 mm. long. Petals pale- to lemon-yellow, with basal dark purplish blotch, obovate, ± 3·5 × 3·5 cm. Capsule ± 2 × 2 cm., ovoid, acute to acuminate, hispid. Seeds pale brown, angled, glab., 4-5 mm. long.

DIST.: N. Coastal sandy places from North Cape to 35° 30', rare. A now widespread sp.

In T.N.Z.I. 2, 1870, 242 Buchanan listed this sp. under the name H. Taylorii, but gave no description.