134 XXIV. ROSAOEAE. [Acaena. 



Var. pallida. More robust and less silky than the type, forming large masses, with pale- 

 green leaves and stout erect green peduncles. Heads IJin. in diameter, including the spines, which 

 are usually green. Oalyx-tube narrow-linear, much longer than in the type, greenish. 



NORTH and SOUTH Islands: Auckland to Southland. Nov. to Jan. Red piripiri. Var. 

 pallida, Port Nicholson. 



This species is distinguished from A. Sanguisorbae by the large heads, the longer spines, and 

 the achene narrowed at both ends. Var. pallida difiers widely from the type in appearance, but 

 cannot be specifically distinguished. It is only found on blown sand. 



4. A. microphylla, Hook, f., Fl. N.Z. i. .55. SufEruticose at base. 



Branches slender, short, and tufted or spreading, 3in.— 18in. long. Leaves 



glabrous or sparingly silky, f in.— lin. long, narrow-obovate ; leaflets 3—6 pairs, 



almost orbicular, often cuneate at base and truncate above, with 3 subacute or 



crenate teeth on each side, and a smaller apical tooth. Peduncles slender, 



lin.— Sin. long, or the heads sessile. Calyx-tube broadly turbinate, nearly 



glabrous or silky at the angles ; segments free nearly to the base. Stamens 3. 



Fruiting-calyx broader than high, 4-angled ; bristles 4, spreading, barbless, 



bright-red. Achene 1, bony, broadly ovoid, obscurely angled. 



NORTH and SOQTH Islands : common in mountain districts from the Bast Cape to South- 

 land. Sea-level to 3,500£t. Nov. to Jan. 



Var. depressa. Branches rather stout or very slender. Leaves smaller than in the type. 

 Heads sessile or shortly peduncled, few-flowered. Achenes with ridges rather more prominent than 

 in the type.— 4. depressa, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z.I, ix. (1877) 548. NORTH Island : Poverty Bay. 

 SOUTH Island: Otago &o.. Southland. 



Var. inermis. More slender than the type. Leaves lin.-iiu. long; leaflets larger, often 



glaucous. Peduncles very slender. Fruiting-calyx without bristles. Achenes as in the type. 



A. imermis. Hook, f., PI. N.Z. i. 54. SOUTH Island : in mountaiu districts, Nelson to Southland. 



Prom the total absence of spines this plant appears at first sight very distinct from the type, 

 but there is no character by which it can be separated, as armed and unarmed fruits may be found 

 on the same plant or in the same head. 



5. A. Buchanani, Hook. /., Handbk. 57. Suffruticose, lin.-2in. high. 

 Branches short, closely appressed to the ground. Leaves silky or densely 

 villous, fin.-liu. long; leaflets in 3—5 pairs; teeth minute. Heads sessile, 

 3— 10-flowered. Bvactlets ciliated. Calyx-tube broadly turbinate, 4-angled ; 

 segments cohering at the very base. Stamens 2. Pruiting-calyx pilose, with 

 4 prominent ridges and 4 bristles, barbed when young. Achene bony, broadly 

 turbinate, 4-angled. 



SOUTH Island : Otago : Lake district and upper part of the Clutha Valley, Buchanan ! 

 Petrie ! 



Best distinguished by the small leaves, sessile heads, and broadly turbinate bony achene. 



6. A. glabra, Buck, in Trans. N.Z.I, iv. (1871) 2.30, t. 14. Suffruti- 

 cose, rather stout, glabrous. Branches erect or ascending. Leaves fin.— lin, 

 long ; leaflets in 3 or 4 pairs, obovate or deltoid, cuneate below, with about 3 

 deep crenatures on each side. Peduncles 3in.-5in. long. Heads often uni- 

 sexual or polygamous. Flowers shortly pedicellate ; bractlets ciliate or laciniate. 

 Calyx-tube much compressed, the lateral angles produced upwards into wing- 

 like processes, the anterior and posterior angles short and depressed ; segments 

 free or coherent at the very base only. Stamens 25-^10, all perfect, in the male 



