Petrorhagia velutina (Guss.) P.W.Ball & Heywood

Annual. Stems erect, with glandular hairs in lower parts of middle internodes, (10)–15–40 cm tall. Basal lvs tufted, linear-oblanceolate, subacute to acute, 10–50 × 2–5 mm; margins scabrid; base sheathing; sheaths 2–3× as long as broad. Cauline lvs erect, linear, acute, glabrous or scabrid on margins; uppermost pairs becoming mucronate, scarious. Fls (1)–3–6, enclosed in an epicalyx of papery scarious mucronate to acute scales. Pedicels 2–4 mm long. Calyx 9–13 mm long; teeth short, obtuse. Petals pink to purple, clawed, emarginate to 2-fid. Capsule < calyx. Seeds ovoid, curved around the hilum, black, coarsely and sharply warty, 0.9–1.2 mm long.

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

Flowering: Oct.–Nov.–(May); Fruiting: Oct.–Nov.–(May)