Geranium sessiliflorum Cav.

Perennial herb, often forming a ± prostrate mat, with thick, usually branched taproot and woody caulorrhiza covered with very persistent stipules and petioles. Stems short or 0. Petioles to 10 cm long, slender, densely covered in retrorse hairs. Lamina 1–2–(3) cm diam., broadly reniform to orbicular, lobed to 1/2–3/4 way to midrib; lobes (3)–5–7, green, bronze or purplish green above; hairs variable, sometimes very sparse; secondary lobes shallow, ± mucronulate. Fls solitary; peduncle to 3 cm long including pedicel, often very short, densely covered in retrorse hairs; bracteoles linear-subulate, brown. Sepals 4–7 × 1.5–2.5 mm, elliptic or nearly so, with long, white, spreading hairs; apex cuspidate. Petals 5–7 × 1–3 mm, narrow-elliptic to oblong or obovate, white, often slightly > sepals. Mericarps 2–3 mm long, ± hirsute; beak 8–10 mm long. Seed 1.5–2 mm long, oblong, almost smooth with very shallow alveolae.

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

Flowering: Oct.–Apr.