Flora of New Zealand Series

Stems 20-60-(80) cm high, 2-4 mm diam. Infl. either branched near base or bearing fascicles of fls in axils of upper lvs. Stamens 5-7. Fr. glabrous, with 25-35 spines.

N.: Auckland and Bay of Plenty to Poverty Bay, Wellington (Manawatu); S.: Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury Plains, E. Otago and Dunedin.

Australia 1973

Short, dry grassland, riverbeds, wasteland, up to c. 850 m.

Orchard pointed out that this var. is more common in N.Z. than in its native Australia.