Aphanes arvensis L.

Small but often stout, pilose, greyish green to yellowish green herb, much branched near base, 20–60–(250) mm high, sometimes decumbent and forming loose mats; stems slender, long-pilose; internodes often hidden by overlapping stipules and lvs. Lvs cauline; petiole 1.5–3 mm long and winged; blade (3)–4–8–(10) × 4–10–(12) mm, 3-partite with each segment ± flabellate and deeply divided into (2)–3–6, oblong to clavate, blunt to subacute lobes, silky pilose on both surfaces; stipules 1.5–3–(4) mm long, adnate to petiole, divided into several ± triangular or sometimes lanceolate-triangular or subulate lobes. Infl. axillary, of small cymes, sessile or with a very short peduncle, usually with upper part of sepals showing above investing stipules; fls sessile or shortly pedicellate. Fr. 2–2.5–(2.8) mm long; hypanthium ellipsoid, flattened, distinctly narrowed below teeth, pale yellow to brown, ribbed, with long hairs on ribs at least above and generally shorter hairs between ribs, sometimes densely hairy; calyx teeth 0.5–0.7 mm long, triangular, ± erect, glabrous except for long hairs on margin and rib; epicalyx minute or 0.

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

Flowering: Oct.–Feb.–(Jun.)