numerous, spreading, ½–3 in. long, linear, often curved, obtuse, coriaceous, more or less pilose towards the sheathing base. Scapes slender, ½–3 in. high, sometimes forked, with 2–5 linear obtuse bracts. Heads usually solitary, ⅙–¼ in. diam.; involucral bracts 8-14, linear-oblong, subacute, 3-nerved. Florets 20–24; females swollen at the base, deeply 4-lobed; disc-florets larger, tubular, with 4 short erect teeth. Achenes clavate, obtusely 4-gonous.—Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxiv. (1892) 420; Students Fl. 331.
South Island: Not uncommon on the mountains from Nelson to Foveaux Strait; most plentiful on the western side of the central range; altitudinal range from 2500 to 4500 ft. Stewart Island: Not uncommon. Sea-level to 2500 ft. December–January.
4. A. cæspitosa, Petrie ex T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxiv. (1892) 420.—A small densely tufted raoss-like plant, often forming broad fiat patches; stems seldom more than ½ in. high. Leaves numerous, spreading or recurved, ⅕–⅓ in. long, linear or linear-spathulate, obtuse, sheathing at the base, rather fleshy, flat or slightly concave, margins scarious when young. Scapes very short, often almost wanting; bracts 1 or 2, linear. Heads solitary, 110 in. diam.; involucral bracts about 8, linear-oblong, 3-nerved. Florets 6–8, precisely similar to those of A. linearis. Achenes clavate, obscurely tetragonous.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 331.
South Island: Nelson—Mount Arthur, Mount Owen, T.F.C. Canterbury—Mountains above the Broken River, Craigieburn Mountains, Petrie! T.F.C. Otago—Clarke's Diggings, Mount Ida, Mount Kyeburn, Petrie! 3000–6000 ft. December–January.
Probably only an alpine state of A linearis.
5. A. inconspicua, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 140.—A densely tufted moss-like plant, forming soft rounded patches; stems ½–2 in. long, densely leafy. Leaves numerous, spreading or ascending, ¼–⅓ in. long, linear-subulate, broad and membranous at the base, with ciliate margins, gradually tapering to a subacute thick and fleshy tip, rigid when dry. Head solitary, 110–18 in. diam., sunk amongst the uppermost leaves; involucral bracts linear-oblong, obtuse, 3-nerved. Florets 15–20; females narrow-tubular, slightly swollen at the base, lobes 4, spreading; disc-florets larger, between funnel-shaped and tubular, with 5 short erect lobes. Achene linear-clavate, 4-ribbed.—Buch. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. (1882) 354, t. 34, f. 1; Kirk, Students' Fl. 331.
South Island: Otago—Mount Alta, Hector and Buchanan! Black Peak, A. McKay! common on all the higher mountains of the interior, Petrie! 4000–6000 ft. December–January.
6. A. pusilla, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 139.—A minute tufted moss-like plant. Stems slender, wiry, leafy, ½–1 in. long, emitting long fibrous roots. Leaves crowded, spreading or recurved, ½ in.
