Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Aciphylla
Species: A. aurea
Binomial name: Aciphylla aurea
Common names: Golden Spaniard, Golden Speargrass, taramea.
Aciphylla aurea is a species in the genus Aciphylla (bayonet plant) which belongs to the family of the Apiaceae (Carrot Family).
Aciphylla aurea is a robust yellowish-green-golden large spiky plant which forms clumps to 1 m with a tall robust very spiky flower head which can remain for up to 2 years. It is a coloniser of arid windswept, cold dry grassland and tussock areas (300-1500 m.a.s.l.) and can withstand temperatures down to -17, 7º C.
Aciphylla aurea has yellow star-shaped flowers that are arranged in large compound umbels that appear during November-December. Fruits appear January-February.
For more details visit: http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=1451
Photographed March at Arthurs Pass, South Island, New Zealand.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
