Flora of New Zealand Series

A. lyallii var. crenulata Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 1906, 211.

Type locality: "From the Rakaia and Waimakariri Sources". Type: Oliver (loc. cit 10) has selected a specimen in CM from Arthur Pass.

Slender, forming rather lax tufts, up to ± 6 dm. tall. Lvs long, flexible, rather flaccid, pinnate, up to 15 cm. × 5 mm. Sheaths broad, thin; stipules slender, spinulose. Primary pinnae (1)-2-3-(4) pairs, linear, 5-15 cm. × 2-5 mm.; midrib often bright red; margins thickened, finely crenulate, tapering to pungent point. Stems of male plants very slender; infl. elongate, dense-fld but more open than in female, 1-3-(4) dm. long. Bracts ∞, spreading; sheaths short, membr.; stipules short, pungent; lamina slender, up to 4cm. long. Umbels and umbellules on long slender rays. Stems of female plants slender, with infl. up to ± 6 dm. long. Lowest bracts often empty; peduncles and rays long, slender. Fr. c. 4mm. long; mericarps 4-5-winged.

DIST.: S. Higher montane to subalpine throughout, mostly in the wetter areas.

A complex group of forms is at present included under the name A. crenulata. Forms with very narrow pinnae are not uncommon.