Modiola caroliniana (L.) G.Don

Annual herb, procumbent and rooting along stems, sometimes ascending at tips. Stems sparsely to moderately clothed in stellate hairs in younger parts, becoming ± glabrous toward base. Lvs usually ± glabrous above, sparsely to moderately clothed in stellate hairs below, suborbicular to ovate-cordate and acute, (5)–10–40–(50) mm long; lvs of young plants usually shallowly lobed and irregularly crenate; lvs of mature plants often deeply palmately divided into 3–7 pinnatisect lobes; petioles 5–80–(100) mm long; stipules ovate to oblong, 3–8 mm long. Fls axillary and solitary; fruiting pedicels (5)–10–50–(80) mm long; epicalyx segments oblanceolate, < calyx; calyx teeth sparsely to moderate hairy with simple hairs, ovate-triangular, acute to acuminate, = or > tube, somewhat spreading but not enlarged at fruiting; petals bright orange to reddish orange, usually turning purple when dried, 3–7 mm long. Cells 15–25 per fr., setaceous, particularly along the ridged back; dorsal apical angles with a short slender awn. Seeds brown, glabrous or clothed in sparse fine hairs, c. 1.5 mm long.

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

Flowering: Oct.–Mar.