Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Rosales Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Acaena Mutis ex L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Acaena novae-zelandiae Kirk, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 3: 177 (1870 [1871]) – as Acœna Novœ-Zelandiœ
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Acaena sanguisorbae subsp. novae-zelandiae (Kirk) Bitter, Biblioth. Bot. 74: 263 (1911)
  • = Acaena macrantha Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 23: 383 (1890 [1891])
Vernacular Name(s):
bidibid; Red bidibid
 Description

Stoloniferous perennial; prostrate stems 1.5–2 mm diam., < 1.5 m long; erect stems 1–2 mm diam., < 15 cm long or longer when scrambling on supporting vegetation. Lvs 2–11 cm long; stipules entire to 5-fid; leaflets 9–15, oblong, 4–17 × 2–10 mm, 8–15-toothed, bright, shining green (rachis often red) and glabrous or sparsely hairy on upper surface, glaucescent and sparsely or densely hairy on veins and margins on lower surface; teeth appearing crenate because of recurved margins. Scape 10–15 cm long, pilose; capitulum c. 9 mm diam. at flowering, < 3.5 cm diam. (including spines) at fruiting; florets c. 80–100–(120); sepals 4; stamens usually 2, rarely 3; anthers white; style 1, white; achene 1. Fr. obconic, c. 4 × 1.7 mm, hairy; spines 4, red, 7.5–12 mm long, barbed, occasionally with stunted subsidiary spines on side of fr.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Oct.–Dec.; Fruiting: Dec.–Jun.

 Bibliography
Bitter, G. 1911: Die Gattung Acaena. Vorstudien zu einer Monographie. Bibliotheca Botanica 74: 249–336.
Colenso, W. 1891: A Description of some newly discovered indigenous plants, being a further contribution towards making known the botany of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 23: 381–391.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Kirk, T. 1871 ("1870"): Descriptions of New Plants. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 3: 177–180.
Webb, C.J.; Edgar, E. 1999: Spelling New Zealand in the specific and infraspecific epithets of vascular plants. New Zealand Journal of Botany 37(1): 71–77.