- ≡ Ligusticum acutifolium Kirk, J. Bot. 29: 237 (1891)
- = Aciphylla acutifolia Cockayne in Chilton, Subantarctic Is. N. Z. 198 (1909)
Very stout, up to c. 1·5 m. tall. stems deeply furrowed, on stocks ± 3 cm. diam.; bracts with membr. sheaths up to 8 cm. long including blunt ligules, extended into laminae up to c. 8 cm. long with deeply dissected pinnae. Lvs, basal and cauline, on petioles c. 20–30 cm. long; sheaths up to c. 6 cm. long member., with obtuse ligule. Lamina very coriac., 20–25–40 × 20–30 cm., about ovate- to deltoid-oblong in outline. Primary pinnae 6–8 rather distant but overlapping pairs, 10–15 × 5–8 cm. Secondary pinnae ± 3–5 × 1–2 cm.; tertiary up to c. 2 cm. long, deeply to rather shallowly cut into segs ± 5 mm. long tipped by bristle-points. Umbels compound, upper ones approximate, ± 4–6 cm. diam., on stout peduncles up to c. 10 cm. long. Bracts similar to lvs of stem, but smaller. Primary rays stout, unequal, (10)–15–20, ± 2–3 cm. long; involucral bracts few to 0, narrow-lanceolate, ± 1 cm. long. Secondary short, many; involucral bracts linear. Fls c. 4–5 mm. diam.; calyx-lobes minute, bluntly triangular petals white with central brown stripe, ± 2 mm. long, ovate-oblong, subacute with minute hair-process. Fr. 4–5 mm. long, > rays; mericarps deeply 5–3-ribbed, with distinct wings.
[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]