Acaena tesca

Taxobox
name = "Acaena tesca"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Rosales
familia = Rosaceae
subfamilia = Rosoideae
tribus = Sanguisorbeae
subtribus= Sanguisorbinae
genus = "Acaena"
species = "A. tesca"
binomial = "Acaena tesca"
binomial_authority = Macmillan, 1991

"Acaena tesca" is a species of low growing perennial plant restricted to the upper slopes of the mountains of central Otago and northern Southland on South Island, New Zealand.

This plant spreads using subterranean stems and forms mats in suitable areas. Its habitat is among the high, bleak tussock grasslands of central South Island, growing between tussocks and around rock outcrops. It can be distinguished from its closest congeners by the glaucous leaves with red teeth and its spreading, mat-forming (rather than compact) habit. Flowering occurs in January with fruit being produced in February and March.

References

*cite journal |quotes=no |url=http://www.rsnz.org/publish/nzjb/1991/15.php |title="Acaena rorida" and "Acaena tesca" (Rosaceae) - two new species from New Zealand |journal=New Zealand Journal of Botany |volume=29 |year=1991 |author=B. H. Macmillan |pages=131–138