Var. thomsonii
B. thomsonii Kirk in T.N.Z.I. 16, 1884, 372.
Type locality: Sydney Cove, Stewart Id. Type: A, 9380, T. Kirk, Jan. 1882.
Plant robust, us. much-branched, spreading, up to ± 3 dm. tall, 4 dm. diam.; all parts ± densely glandular-pubescent. Stock stout, multicipital; branches ∞, stout. Radical lvs ∞, early falling; lamina rather thick to membr., (2.5)-3-4-(6) × (1)-2-(3) cm., obovate-spathulate to obovate-oblong, rather deeply irregularly pinnatifidly lobed; lobes ± obovate-oblong, obtuse to subacute, us. apiculate. Petiole broad, flat, subamplexicaul, ± 2-3 cm. × 3-5 mm. Cauline lvs us. ∞, similar; lower ± = radical, upper smaller, uppermost ± linear-lanceolate, sts entire. Scapes ∞, stout, 10-15-(25) cm. long, to rather slender and shorter. Capitula 10-15 mm. diam. Phyll. glandular-pubescent, obovate-oblong, 4-5 mm. long; margins scarious. Receptacle slightly to strongly convex; ray-florets ∞, white, 6-10 mm. long. Achenes densely glandular-pubescent, obovate-oblong in outline, ± turgid, margins somewhat thickened, 2.5-3-(4) × 1-1·25-(1·5) mm. long. Pappus of ∞ conspicuous unequal bristles.
DIST.: N., S., St. Lowland to montane grassland, open places, forest margins, herbfield, from c. lat. 39° 30' southwards, the N. records needing confirmation.
B. thomsonii var. minima Kirk Stud. Fl. 1899, 260 is described as: "Scapes 2 in.-3 in. high. Heads much smaller. Ray florets 0. Ruapuke Island; Dog Island." Type not located. Small, possibly impoverished, plants are occ. met with in arid places. Plants glandular-pubescent, up to 5 cm. tall, rhizomatous, sparingly branched; lamina ± 10 × 7 mm., lobes rather narrow. Scapes up to ± 3·5 cm.; capitula 5-7 mm. diam.
