Phil Bendle Collection:Aciphylla squarrosa (Common Speargrass)

Kingdom:   Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Aciphylla
Species: A. squarrosa
Binominal name: Aciphylla squarrosa
Common names: Common Speargrass, Kurikuri, Taramea, The Spaniard,

Aciphylla squarrosa is native to New Zealand is found in both North Island and South Island in coastal to low-alpine areas from East Cape to North Canterbury. A. squarrosa can withstand temperatures down to -28º C.
It forms a dense cluster up to the 1m high of spiky three-pinnate leaves. The narrow blue-green leaves are highly divided with rigid serrated or crenulated margins and midrib and with pungent tips. These will pierce tramping boots. 
During November to January sweet-scented star-shaped yellow flowers on a compound, umbels are carried on a stalk up 1 m high. These stalks are also covered in razor-sharp spears presumably as a defence against animals such as the now extinct moa from eating it.

To see how the Maori used this plant visit: http://maoriplantuse.landcareresearch.co.nz/WebForms/PeoplePlantsDetails.aspx?PKey=11c60d30-777a-40cd-9ba6-d3ccd073d8bd 

Photographed at Otari Wilton Reserve, Wellington
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Photographed November at Otari Wilton Bush Reserve
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Flowers
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Photographed at Te Kainga Marire Gardensat Spencer Place
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Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ 

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