Flora of New Zealand Series

Stoloniferous perennial; prostrate stems 1-1.5 mm diam., < 30 cm long; erect stems 1-1.5 mm diam., < 5 cm long. Lvs 2.5-15 cm long; stipules deeply (3)-4-5-fid; leaflets 9-11, obovate, suborbicular or orbicular-emarginate, 4-11 × 1.4-4 mm, 9-13-toothed, green-glaucous on both surfaces with veins often dark, ± glabrous on upper surface, sparsely hairy on lower surface; teeth obtuse, penicillate, often dark-tipped. Scape (7)-12-20 cm long, glabrate, purplish; capitulum 6-9 mm diam. at flowering, c. 15 mm diam. (including spines) at fruiting; florets c. 50-60; sepals 4; stamens 2; anthers red; style 1, rose or white; achene 1. Fr. obconic, c. 2.5 × 1 mm, hairy; spines 4, pale brown, c. 4 mm long, barbed.

S.: Montane to alpine grassland and herbfield, especially stream banks and seepages.

Endemic.

FL Nov-Mar FT Dec-Mar.