Acaena novae-zelandiae Kirk var. pallida Kirk, Stud. Fl. New Zealand, 134. 1899

Plants stoloniferous. Stems to 10 dm, 2–3 mm diam., ˂rough with protruding hair bases˃; branches erect, leafy. Leaves: stipules 3–4-fid; petiole 1–1.5 cm; blade 2.5–12 cm, leaflets 4–7 per side, abaxially whitish with uneven wax layer, adaxially glossy green, oblong, 6–30 mm, margins dentate, teeth 4–10 per side, ˂rugulose adaxially˃, abaxial surface pilose. Scapes axillary, 7–18 cm, 1.5–2 mm diam., lacking both cauline leaves and multicellular hairs. Inflorescences 80–90-flowered, globose heads (heads 10 mm diam. in flower, 2–4 cm diam. in fruit); bracteoles linear, pilose. Flowers 4 mm diam.; sepals 4, triangular, 2 mm, abaxially pilose, adaxially glabrous; stamens 2, filaments 3–4 mm, anthers white; stigma white, fimbriate. Fruiting hypanthia obconic, 4.5–6 mm diam., surfaces covered with appressed hairs, 4-angled, each angle with a spine at apex, 9–15 mm, spines with 4–10 translucent, retrorse barbs 0.5 mm at apex, usually with 1[–3] subsidiary spines on angles, ˂surfaces glabrous˃. 2n = 42 (New Zealand).

Flowering May–Jun. Coastal sands; 0–10 m; introduced; Calif.; Pacific Islands (New Zealand); Australia.

In the flora area, Acaena pallida is known from a single collection from Marin County.