Acaena tesca

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Speciesbox | image = Acaena tesca 462833460.jpg |genus = Acaena |species = tesca |authority = B.H.Macmill. }}

'''''Acaena tesca''''' is a species of low growing perennial plant restricted to the upper slopes of the mountains of central Otago and northern Southland in the South Island of 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.<ref name=macmill/>

==Conservation status== In 2018, it was classified as "Not Threatened" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.<ref name=NZTCS/> ==References== <references>

<ref name=macmill>{{cite journal |title=''Acaena rorida'' and ''Acaena tesca'' (Rosaceae) - two new species from New Zealand |journal=New Zealand Journal of Botany |volume=29 |issue = 2|year=1991 |author=B. H. Macmillan |pages=131–138 |doi=10.1080/0028825X.1991.10416716}}</ref>

<ref name="NZTCS">{{Cite journal|last1=de Lange|first1=P.J.|author1link=Peter James de Lange |last2=Rolfe|first2=J.R.|last3=Barkla|first3=J. W.|last4=Courtney|first4=S.P. |last5=Champion|first5=P.D.|last6=Perrie|first6=L.R.|last7=Beadel|first7=S.M.|last8=Ford|first8=K.A.|last9=Breitwieser|first9=I.|last10=Schönberger|first10=I.|last11=Hindmarsh-Walls|first11=R.|date=2018|page=53 |title=Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/science-and-technical/nztcs22entire.pdf|journal=New Zealand Threat Classification Series|volume=22|oclc=1041649797}}</ref>

</references>

tesca Category:Flora of New Zealand Category:Plants described in 1991