Same genus as your hitchhiker. Just less likely to ruin your socks. Acaena inermis is spineless bidibid. It is a ground-hugging plant with soft, harmless leaves. It does not have the barbed burrs that make its relatives so memorable. It is the polite cousin of the family. The leaves are fern-like. They are divided into small leaflets. They are bright green. They form a dense mat. The flowers are small, greenish, inconspicuous. The fruit is a small nutlet without spines. It will not stick to your socks. It will not get caught in your laces. Acaena inermis grows in grasslands, open forests, riverbeds, and disturbed areas. It is common throughout New Zealand. It is adaptable. The name inermis means unarmed. Without spines. It is the opposite of Acaena novae-zelandiae, the spiky hitchhiker. This plant has no weapons. It relies on other means to spread. The spineless bidibid is endemic to New Zealand. It is found only here. In gardens, Acaena inermis is valued as a ground cover. It spreads quickly. It fills gaps. It does not produce annoying burrs. The plant is not threatened. It is common. It is widespread. Acaena inermis is a reminder. Not all bidibids are spiky. Some are soft. Some are polite. This one is both. Acaena inermis has no recognised Māori name. The spiny Acaena species are called piripiri. This spineless relative may not have had a distinct name. It grows in grasslands and open areas. These were important for Māori as sources of food and materials. The plant was part of the landscape. It provided cover. It held the soil. It did not demand attention. No significant threats exist. It may be outcompeted by exotic grasses in some areas. Common and widespread throughout New Zealand. Not threatened. Forms extensive mats in open areas and forest margins.