Sison amomum L.

Erect biennial, with a nauseous odour when crushed. Stems solid, striate, up to 120 cm high. Basal lvs 1-pinnate, sometimes lowest leaflets again divided, petiolate; leaflets in 3–8 pairs, ovate-elliptic, lobed and serrate, c. 2–7 cm long, usually subsessile; stem lvs reduced, usually 1–2-ternate, with segments linear or narrow-ovate and lobed or serrate. Umbels 1–5 cm diam.; rays (1)–2–5–(6), slender and somewhat irregular giving a diffuse appearance to the infl.; bracts 2–3, linear to subulate; bracteoles 1–4, usually subulate, rarely linear. Fls 2–5, white or greenish white, 1–2 mm diam. Fr. broadly ovate, 2–3 mm long, dark brown with lighter ribs.

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

Flowering: Oct.–Feb.