About Aciphylla congesta Cheeseman
Aciphylla congesta is a species of flowering plant in the genus Aciphylla that is endemic to New Zealand. It was first formally described by Thomas Frederic Cheeseman in 1914. This species is a tufted herb that forms clumps of leaves reaching up to 60 centimetres (24 inches) across. It produces globular heads, often called 'snowballs', of creamy white flowers that grow from a stout, long, fleshy stalk. Both male and female individual plants produce flowers. This plant is endemic to New Zealand, where it occurs in the southwest of the South Island, specifically in south Westland, western Otago, north-western Southland, and Fiordland. It grows at elevations between 1,200 and 2,000 metres, in high-rainfall fellfields, on exposed slopes, and in areas with regular snow accumulation.
