Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Subfamily: Rosoideae
Tribe: Sanguisorbeae
Subtribe: Sanguisorbinae
Genus: Acaena
Species: Acaena microphylla
Common names: Scarlet Piripiri, Rosy Spined New Zealand Burr
Acaena microphylla is a prostrate branching herb perennial which forms a 1m dense carpet of green to bronze-green leaves with a height of 3 cm. The leaves are up to 3cm in length.
In December to March when in bloom, the bright red coloured, burr-like flower-heads (2.3cm in diameter) form bright red patches which can last until April.
Found in the wild in grasslands, riverbeds and herb fields of the Volcanic Plateau in the Tongariro National Park up to 1,100m altitude.
The Royal Horticultural Society has given Acaena microphylla their prestigious Award of Garden Merit which is for plants of outstanding excellence. It can be purchased from specialised nurseries.
Photographed at Otari Wilton Bush Reserve.
Photo showing bronze-green leaves.and burr-like flower-heads. Photo taken March after long dry summer
A close of a burr-like flower-head. (March.)
The developed burr with hooks.
A developing flower head (November)
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
