Flora of New Zealand Series

C. petiolata var. rigida Kirk Stud. Fl. 1899, 286.

Stout tufted herb, lf-sheaths densely imbricate along stem. Lamina thick, coriac., ± rigid; ± 10-15 × (3)-5-7 cm., oblong- to ovate-lanceolate to elliptic-oblong, obtuse; upper surface glab. or clad in thin pellicle; lower surface densely clad in soft velvety ferruginous to white tomentum; purple to green midrib and main veins evident to prominent on both surfaces. Margins densely clad in white floccose hairs, obliquely rounded to coriac. purplish sheath ± 8 × 2 cm., at first clad without in white ± floccose tomentum. Scape rather stout, up to c. 20 cm. long, us. clad in dense white floccose tomentum; bracts linear, lower up to c. 8 cm. long. Capitula ± 3-5 cm. diam.; phyll. pale brown, linear-subulate, clad on back with long white floccose hairs, glab. within except towards tips. Ray-florets c. 20-(25) mm. long; tube cylindric, filiform, limb narrow-oblong; disk-florets funnelform to tubular, 6-7 mm. long, teeth narrow-triangular. Achenes subcompressed-cylindric, 4-5 mm. long, with ∞ acute strong ribs bearing a few stiff hairs. Pappus-hairs rather sordid-white, finely barbellate, up to c. 7 mm. long.

DIST.: St. Apparently mainly coastal, on cliffs.

A rather polymorphic group of specimens is included in herbaria under this name and further study is much needed. Kirk (loc. cit.) gives the following description, but indicates no type: "Leaves oblong-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, rigid and coriaceous; tomentum white or ferruginous beneath; midrib obvious on both surfaces, purple. Head larger. Rays sometimes 1 in. long. Achene perfectly glabrous . . . descends to sea-level."