Climbing liana on edge of small beech pocket close to Cass Mountain Research Area. Transition from beech forest to shrubland with specimen climbing well overhead. Very prickly species which are red on stem and underside of leaves (although less prominent).Leaflets hairless and digitately arranged. Leaflets are coriaceous, toothed, and narrow although very variable. Not yet ripe aggregate fruit, which is very hard.
Observed by the Temple Basin track. Single flower is white/pale blue with darker veins. Corolla partially fused. Leaves arranged in a basal rosette and the stem leafless.
Acaena ( Family: Rosaceae). It ia a perennial herb. leaves are toothed to base, dull green to red-green, basal leaves often mottled brown, upper surface sparsely to densely hairy, undersides paler, about Inflorescence up to 120mm ling covered in long, appressed hairs.
(source: New Zealand plant conservation network).
Growing in clusters walking up Otira valley, Arthurs pass. Persistent papery inner white bracts ( look like petals).
Rocky outcrops besides Otira valley track. Not sure if A. haastii or pilfera? Distinct sheathing bracts ( c.30mm)