Flora of New Zealand Series

Argentine cress

Annual or biennial. Stem erect, branched above, hairy, (10)-20-45-(90) cm tall. Lvs hairy. Basal and lower stem lvs falling at flowering, 2-3-pinnatisect with linear segments, (2)-3-10 × 1-4 cm; petiole expanded at base, < lamina. Upper stem lvs becoming sessile, pinnatifid, 1-3 × 0.5-1.5 cm. Racemes 5-15-(30) cm long; rachis hairy; pedicels hairy, spreading, 2.5-4 mm long at fruiting. Sepals with long tangled hairs or glabrous, 0.5-1 × 0.3-0.5 mm. Petals white, linear, much < sepals or 0. Stamens 2. Silicle circular or broadly elliptic, 2.5-3.5 × 2.5-3.5 mm; style free from the narrow wing, c. 0.1 mm long, not protruding beyond the apical notch; valves glabrous with fine veins when ripe. Seeds brown, ovoid, winged, c. 1.5 mm long.

N.: Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Manawatu, Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, Wellington; S.: Marlborough, Canterbury, Southland.

S.E. South America 1935

Waste land, railway ballast, roadsides.