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Rhizomatous perennial often forming large patches. Stems branched above, with multicellular eglandular and fine cobwebby hairs below, becoming glabrous above, (20)–40–100–(150) cm tall, ribbed, not winged or sometimes with a spiny wing 0–1–(2) cm long decurrent from lf bases. Lvs lanceolate, pinnatifid, green above, pale beneath, (2)–4–15 × 1–5 cm, glabrous or with cobwebby hairs; lobes deltoid to lanceolate; prickles pale, 5–10 mm long. Capitula narrowly ovoid to cylindric at flowering, erect, 1.5–2–(2.5) × 0.7–1.5–(2) cm, in cymes or cymose panicles; peduncles 5–40 mm long. Outer involucral bracts lanceolate, cobwebby-ciliate; apex acuminate, with weak spine 1–(2) mm long, suberect. Inner involucral bracts linear, ciliate; apex acute, not spinous, erect. Corolla usually pale purple or mauve, sometimes white, 12–18 mm long; lobes c. 3 mm long. Style slightly exserted beyond corolla lobes. Achenes pale, cylindric, 3–4 × 1–1.5 mm; pappus 20–25 mm long, shorter in ♂; cilia on pappus bristles 2–3 mm long.
[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]
Flowering: Dec.–Feb.–(Apr.); Fruiting: Dec.–Apr.