Main stems fairly slender, woody, at least at the base, decumbent to prostrate, forming mats to 1m across. Young stems hairy and sometimes red-flushed. Leaves 5-12cm long, bright green above, glaucescent and hairy beneath. Leaflets seven to nine, with prominently rounded teeth. Flowering heads globular with white anthers. Fruiting heads to 3cm wide, the barbed spines red or reddish-brown. South America from sea level in the south to mountains in the north, in various habitats. Naturalised in Europe.
a, A. adscendens; b, A. novo-zelandiae; c, A. ovalifolia;