Acaena
Content
Description
Herbs, usually creeping, rarely suffrutescent.
Leaves imparipinnate, rarely subdigitate.
Inflorescences axillary or terminal, spicate or capitate.
Flowers usually 4-merous, bisexual.
Sepals 3-7, usually 4, valvate, free or shortly connate.
Petals absent.
Stamens 1-8, often 4, episepalous.
Distribution
Antarctic, Asia-Tropical: New Guinea present ‒ present, Australasia: Tasmania (Tasmania present), New Zealand present, Northern America: California (California present), Pacific: Hawaii present, South Africa present, South America present, Southern America, southern hemisphere present
About 40 species (or c. 150 when a much narrower species concept is followed), almost restricted to the Southern Hemisphere, most richly developed in South America, going northwards through Central America to California (1 species). Also in Hawaii (1 species), South Africa (2 species), in the Australian region (several species, in Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand and neighbouring islands, New Guinea), and on the subantarctic islands. In Malesia one species in New Guinea.