Raoulia australis Hook.f. ex Raoul
R. australis Hook. f. Fl. N.Z. 1, 1853, 135 p. min. p.
R. australis var. lutescens Kirk Stud. Fl. 1899, 302.
R. lutescens Beauverd in Bull. Soc. bot. Genève Sér. 2, 2, 1910, 221, f. 5.
Type locality: "Akaroa in montibus saxosis et altis". Type: P.
Stems prostrate, much-branched, creeping and rooting; final branchlets erect, very densely compacted, forming flat mats or occ. rounded cushions up to 1 m. or more diam. Lvs very densely imbricate in c. 5 series, not > c. 2 mm. long, sts smaller, spathulate, subemarginate, often apiculate; basal portion 1-nerved, nearly glab.; upper portion clad on both surfaces in dense appressed tomentum. Capitula c. 4-5 mm. diam.; inner phyll. 1·5-2.5 mm. long, narrow elliptic-oblong, obtuse, tips shining bright yellow, spreading. Florets 12-20, 3-4 mm. long, subfunnelform, c. half ♀. Achenes 0·5-1 mm. long, nearly glab.; pappus-hairs slender, up to ± 4 mm. long. Style with a distinct stylopodium.
DIST.: N., S. Lowland to montane bare ground and riverbeds from c. lat 38° southwards.
There is a portion of the type in K, answering the original description and the habit figure in Raoul's Choix. The plants often form extensive communities in depleted tussock-grassland areas. There is a range of colour forms from a distinct green to grey.
