Laxly branched subshrub, branches densely clad in imbricate lf-remains; living lvs rosulate, ascending, at tips of branchlets. Lamina thin, flexible, 3–4–(7) × 1–1·5 cm., elliptic- to spathulate-oblong to obovate; upper surface clad in loose greyish to white soft ± deciduous hairs; lower in ± dense soft felted white tomentum, midrib hardly evident; apex obtuse, ± apiculate; margins entire, flat or nearly so, narrowed to thin petiole up to 2 cm. × 5 mm. Sheath submembr., up to 25 × 7 mm., glab. (in some forms with floccose hairs), ribs prominent. Scape slender to rather stout, up to c. 25 cm. long, ribbed, glab. or tomentum variously developed in different forms. Bracts up to 25 mm. long, linear to linear-oblong, apiculate, ± tomentose. Capitula 30–35 mm. diam.; phyll. linear, ± reflexed at apex, scarious, up to ± 12 mm. long, hairy on margins and in apical portion. Ray-florets ∞, c. 15 mm. long, tube narrow; limb narrowly obovate-oblong, veins distinct. Disk-florets tubular, ± 7 mm. long, teeth minute, triangular. Achenes ± 5 mm. long, narrow, compressed-cylindric, ribs clad in short ascending hairs. Pappus-hairs slender, up to 8 mm. long, white, finely barbellate.
[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]