Acaena pallida

(Kirk) Allan

Fl. New Zealand 1: 360. 1961.

Introduced
Basionym: Acaena novae-zelandiae var. pallida Kirk Stud. Fl. New Zealand, 134. 1899
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 9. Treatment on page 325. Mentioned on page 324.

Plants stoloniferous. Stems to 10 dm, 2–3 mm diam., rough with protruding hair bases; branches erect, leafy. Leaves: stipules 3–4-fid; petiole 1–1.5 cm; blade 2.5–12 cm, leaflets 4–7 per side, abaxially whitish with uneven wax layer, adaxially glossy green, oblong, 6–30 mm, margins dentate, teeth 4–10 per side, rugulose adaxially, abaxial surface pilose. Scapes axillary, 7–18 cm, 1.5–2 mm diam., lacking both cauline leaves and multicellular hairs. Inflorescences 80–90-flowered, globose heads (heads 10 mm diam. in flower, 2–4 cm diam. in fruit); bracteoles linear, pilose. Flowers 4 mm diam.; sepals 4, triangular, 2 mm, abaxially pilose, adaxially glabrous; stamens 2, filaments 3–4 mm, anthers white; stigma white, fimbriate. Fruiting hypanthia obconic, 4.5–6 mm diam., surfaces covered with appressed hairs, 4-angled, each angle with a spine at apex, 9–15 mm, spines with 4–10 translucent, retrorse barbs 0.5 mm at apex, usually with 1[–3] subsidiary spines on angles, surfaces glabrous. 2n = 42 (New Zealand).


Phenology: Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat: Coastal sands
Elevation: 0–10 m

Distribution

V9 531-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; Calif., Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia.

Discussion

In the flora area, Acaena pallida is known from a single collection from Marin County.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.