Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Apiales Nakai
Family
Umbelliferae
Genus
Anisotome Hook.f.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Anisotome acutifolia (Kirk) Cockayne, New Zealand Pl. Story ed. 2, 135 (1919)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Ligusticum acutifolium Kirk, J. Bot. 29: 237 (1891)
  • = Aciphylla acutifolia Cockayne in Chilton, Subantarctic Is. N. Z. 198 (1909)
 Description

Very stout, up to c. 1·5 m. tall. stems deeply furrowed, on stocks ± 3 cm. diam.; bracts with membr. sheaths up to 8 cm. long including blunt ligules, extended into laminae up to c. 8 cm. long with deeply dissected pinnae. Lvs, basal and cauline, on petioles c. 20–30 cm. long; sheaths up to c. 6 cm. long member., with obtuse ligule. Lamina very coriac., 20–25–40 × 20–30 cm., about ovate- to deltoid-oblong in outline. Primary pinnae 6–8 rather distant but overlapping pairs, 10–15 × 5–8 cm. Secondary pinnae ± 3–5 × 1–2 cm.; tertiary up to c. 2 cm. long, deeply to rather shallowly cut into segs ± 5 mm. long tipped by bristle-points. Umbels compound, upper ones approximate, ± 4–6 cm. diam., on stout peduncles up to c. 10 cm. long. Bracts similar to lvs of stem, but smaller. Primary rays stout, unequal, (10)–15–20, ± 2–3 cm. long; involucral bracts few to 0, narrow-lanceolate, ± 1 cm. long. Secondary short, many; involucral bracts linear. Fls c. 4–5 mm. diam.; calyx-lobes minute, bluntly triangular petals white with central brown stripe, ± 2 mm. long, ovate-oblong, subacute with minute hair-process. Fr. 4–5 mm. long, > rays; mericarps deeply 5–3-ribbed, with distinct wings.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
Chilton, C. (ed.) 1909: The subantarctic islands of New Zealand : reports on the geo-physics, geology, zoology, and botany of the islands lying to the south of New Zealand, based mainly on observations and collections made during an expedition in the government steamer "Hinemoa" (Captain J. Bollons) in November, 1907. Vol. 2. Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, Government Printer, Christchurch.
Cockayne, L. 1919: New Zealand Plants and their Story. Edition 2. Wellington.
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. [Nationally Critical]
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. [Nationally Critical]
Kirk, T. 1891: The Botany of the Snares. Journal of Botany, British and Foreign 29: 206-208, 236–239.