Flora of New Zealand Series

Type locality: Clinton Saddle, Lake Te Anau. Type: A, D. Petrie.

Stout tufted herb with strict, rigid, coriac. lvs; lf-sheaths densely imbricate around stems. Lamina (15)-20-30-(50) × 1-2-(3) cm., linear-lanceolate, acuminate, subpungent; upper surface glab., with a stout pair of ribs (sts doubled) parallel to rather obscure midrib (sts with a further pair ± developed); lower surface completely clad in closely appressed white satiny tomentum, midrib and lateral pair evident; margins ± recurved, gradually narrowed to sheath or with very short petiole; sheath (4)-5-8 cm. long, coriac., finely grooved, midrib prominent, both surfaces clad in deciduous white satiny tomentum. Scape ± 2-5 dm. long, stout, clad in dense floccose hairs; bracts narrow-linear; lower with lamina up to c. 8 cm. long. Capitula 3-4 cm. diam.; phyll. linear-subulate, acuminate, up to c. 17 mm. long, pale brown, ± floccose-hairy on back, glab. within, midrib evident. Ray-florets ± 17-20 mm. long, tube narrow-cylindric, limb narrow-oblong. Disk-florets 6-7 mm. long, tubular, teeth minute. Achenes cylindric, grooved, 2-3 mm. long, with minute stiff white hairs on ribs. Pappus-hairs up to c. 7 mm. long, slender, minutely barbellate.

DIST.: S. Montane to subalpine grassland, herbfield and damp rocks from c. lat. 41° southwards. More frequent and coming to lowlands in southern part of range.

Plants of very damp shaded places may have much elongated often flaccid lvs.