Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Aciphylla takahea W.R.B.Oliv., Trans. Roy. Soc. New Zealand 84: 13 (1956)
Etymology:
The epithet takahea is derived from the type locality (Takahe Valley, Murchison Range).
 Description

Similar in habit to the smaller forms of A. squarrosa. Lvs 2-pinnate, of male plants ± 25 cm., of female plants ± 40 cm. long; margins and midribs serrulate-crenulate, tips pungent. Sheaths up to 5 × 3 cm., tapering to 15 mm.; stipules 3–2–1-foliolate, on ligules up to c. 10 mm. long; lowest central lamina up to c. 5 cm. × 1·5 mm. Petioles c. 5 cm. long, concavo-convex. midrib stout; lower internodes ± 4 cm. long. Primary pinnae 2–5 pairs, the lower ones 3-foliolate, ± 10 cm. × 3–(5) mm. Secondary pinnae up to 5 cm. long, flat, striate, pungent. Stems of male plants ± 6 dm. × 5 mm. including infl. ± 4 dm. long. Lower bracts us. empty, up to 6 cm. long; sheaths c. 3 cm. × 8 mm., submembr.; stipules unequal, to 15 mm. long, pungent. Lamina ± 3 cm. long, ± 3-foliolate. Umbels ± 3 cm diam. on slender rays; involucral bracts capillary; umbellules ± 10-fld, on very short capillary rays. Stems of female plants c. 1 m. × 2 cm. including infl. ± 5 dm. long, oblong-lanceolate. Lower bracts us. empty, ± 8 cm. long; sheaths ± 4 × 1 cm., coriac.; stipules 1–2–3-foliolate, segs pungent, up to 4 cm. long. Lamina ± 3-foliolate to simple in uppermost bracts. Umbels ± 5 cm. diam., on slender rays; involucral bracts capillary. Umbellules ± 10-fld, on very short slender rays. Fr. ± 8 mm. long, broadly winged.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Naturally uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76.
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. [Declining]
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. [Naturally Uncommon]
Oliver, W.R.B. 1956: The Genus Aciphylla. (Cockayne Memorial Paper No. 2). Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 84: 1–18.