Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Rosales Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Acaena Mutis ex L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Acaena pallida (Kirk) Allan, Fl. New Zealand 1, 360 (1961)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Acaena novae-zelandiae var. pallida Kirk, Stud. Fl. New Zealand 134 (1899)
Vernacular Name(s):
bidibid; piripiri; Sand bidibid; Sand piripiri
 Description

Stoloniferous perennial; prostrate stems c. 3 mm diam., < 1 m long; erect stems 2–3 mm diam., < 15 cm long. Lvs 2.5–12 cm long; stipules entire to 4-fid; leaflets 9–15, oblong, 6–30 × 3–13 mm, 8–20-toothed, shining green, glabrous and rugulose on upper surface, whitish and hairy on lower surface; teeth with margins recurved. Scape 7–18 cm long, pilose; capitulum c. 10 mm diam. at flowering, < 4 cm diam. (including spines) at fruiting; florets c. 80–90–(115); sepals 4; stamens 2; anthers white; style 1, white; achene 1. Fr. obconic, c. 5 × 2 mm, hairy; spines 4, red or pale brown, 10–20 mm long, barbed, frequently 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.–Apr.

 Bibliography
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. [Not Threatened]
Kirk,T. 1899: The Students' Flora of New Zealand and the Outlying Islands. Government Printer, Wellington, N.Z.