Geum urbanum L.

Erect herb arising from a short rhizome; stem moderately stout to slender, 30–40–(60) cm high at flowering, branched, moderately to densely clothed in long and short hairs. Lvs both basal and cauline; basal lvs with petiole up to 18 cm long, grooved and pilose; blade ovate to obovate, up to 14 cm long, usually pinnately 3-foliolate, sometimes imparipinnate with 2–3 pairs of major leaflets, hairy above, hairy below especially on veins; margins 2-serrate to irregularly crenate-serrate and lobed; terminal leaflet up to 6–(10) cm long, 3–5-lobed or sometimes deeply incised. Cauline lvs decreasing in size upwards, with ± orbicular dissected stipules, the uppermost lvs obscurely 3-lobed and crenate; infl. a few-flowered loose cyme; peduncles densely clothed in short and long hairs, up to 14 cm long. Epicalyx segments lanceolate, 2–5 mm long. Sepals ovate-triangular, 4–7 mm long, hairy, reflexed at fruiting. Petals 3–6 mm long, rounded, yellow. Achenes c. 50–70, hairy, forming a ± globose head c. 10–12 × 6–13 mm; distal part of style deciduous; proximal part of style persistent, hooked, glabrous or with few hairs at base.

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

Flowering: Aug.–Feb.; Fruiting: Jan.–May.