#acaena

One last one from @purrdence​’s trip up to Aoraki Mt Cook.

L’acaena

PRÉSENTATION Je vous présente une plante qui est la cousine de la pimprenelle. Petite vivace persistante elle vous permettra de couvrir un sol ingrat à merveille. Son feuillage de couleur bleue argentée est splendide. Elle portera des espèces de fruits crochus  jaunes et éventuellement rouge cuivré. L’acaena compte plus d’une centaine d’espèces basses, persistantes et vivaces. La plupart des…

And ANOTHER species of Acaena.

AKA red bidibid, buzzy and piri-piri bur. Despite the epithet, also found in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

First formally described in 1871 by English-born botanist Thomas Kirk. The New Zealand government commissioned him in 1884 to report on the forests of the country and appointed him as chief conservator of forests the following year. He was instrumental in setting aside some 800 000 acres as forest reserves by 1888. He was also the author of 130 botantical papers, and was highly regarded for his knowledge of Aotearoan flora.

AKA hutiwai, and piripiri, Acaena pusilla and Acaena viridior. The binomial is derived from the resemblance to Argentina anserina, also known as silverweed or silver cinquefoil.

Another Acaena species. This one is abundant on all the Aotearoan islands, from lowland to subalpine forest margins and in shrublands. It's also naturalised on the Auckland and Campbell Islands.

Not from Aoraki - it is, in fact, back from the North Island, at the alpine village halfway up Mt. Ruapehu. I only just got an ID on it, from somebody who had noticed the unusual Acaena in the area before, and presumes it got there on somebody's sock.

Another species of New Zealand Burr, although this one has been introduced to the UK, and has a cultivar grown as a ground cover.