Plants of South Eastern New South Wales
Acaena x ovina
Common name
Hairy sheep's burr, Sheep's burr, Acaena
Family
Rosaceae
Where found
Dry forest, woodland, grassy sites, and disturbed areas. Widespread.
Notes
Perennial herb to 0.66 m tall, moderately to densely hairy. 'Seeds' with many hooked spines, which stick to clothing. Leaves alternating up the stems, compound, 5-25 cm long, with 9-29 leaflets, each 0.5-2.6 cm long, 3-13 mm wide, upper surface moderately appressed hairy, lower surface densely hairy with appressed hairs, margins deeply lobed or toothed, and flat or curved down. Flowers and 'seeds' in long interrupted spikes with 3-4 scattered on the stems lower down the flower stalks. Individual flowers 2-6 mm long, with 4 white sepals, 0 petals, and maroon anthers.
All native plants on unleased land in the ACT are protected.
Acaena ovina in PlantNET.
Acaena agnipila is still recognised as a separate species in NSW and Vic.
PlantNET description (as Acaena agnipila): http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Acaena~agnipila (accessed 10 April 2021)
PlantNET description (as Acaena ovina): http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Acaena~ovina (accessed 10 April 2021)
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