Notes on Some New Zealand Plants and Descriptions of New Species.

By G. Simpson and the late J. Scott Thomson.

specimens collected by Buchanan at Lindis Pass as var. racemosa, but he retained that locality also as one of the habitats for the species. We have not seen specimens from L. Ohau, where var. racemosa, might be expected to occur, but to establish a definite habitat we accept Haast's Mt. Torlesse specimens as the type of the species. The branchlets of C. crassicaule are bronze green, often yellowish in repressed or dried specimens, 5 mm. diam., compressed, rounded at the edges and closely striated. The inflorescence—rhachis, pedicels and calyx—are densely woolly pubescent, the calyx teeth are rounded, and the flowers are nearly 1 cm. long. The species occurs in arid districts in Canterbury and Central Otago.

Var. racemosa T. Kirk.

The variety is much like the species, and we cannot support Cockayne and Allan (1927–50) in according it specific rank. The branchlets are narrower 4 mm. diam., less rigid than those of the species, darker bronze green, and striated by narrower lines. The flowers, described by Kirk (loc. cit) as “less than ½ in. long,” are 1 cm. long, equalling or even slightly exceeding those of the species, and the inflorescence is similarly pubescent, but the calyx teeth are longer and acute. The variety is separated from the species by its narrow, less rigid branchlets and by the acute calyx teeth. Its distribution is not yet well known, but it occurs in less rigid situations than those occupied by the species. Our specimens and plants were collected at Lindis Pass and from grassland slopes to the west of L. Wakatipu.

Geraniaceae.

Geranium microphyllum Hook. f.

To the type of G. microphyllum we refer plants with the open, cuneate, acutely segmented leaves of Hooker's (1844–8-t 5) illustration, found in moist grassland and swamps above 400 m. altitude, and common in sphagnum bogs on the hills near Dunedin. The lower portion of the peduncles are sparingly hairy, but the upper portion, and the pedicels and calyx, are densely clothed with retrose glandular hairs. The carpels are silky and the seed obscurely striated.

Var. obtusatum var. nov.

Foliis fere orbiculatis brunneis vel fuscis pubescentibus profunde angusteque incisis, pedicellis calycibusque pubescentibus distinguitur.

Leaves orbicular or broader than long, brownish or reddish brown, pubescent by fine retrose hairs; segments 3–5 lobed, petioles, peduncles and pedicels pubescent. Flowers white; calyx with long hairs. Carpels silky. Seed striated.

Habitat: Grassland from near sea-level to 900m.

Type specimen from Flagstaff Hill, near Dunedin, in the Herbarium Plant Research Bureau, Wellington.

A common grassland plant easily separated from the form we refer to the type.

Var. discolor var. nov.

Foliis supra fulveis flavo-macculatis, late incisis, pedicellis parce pilosis distinguitur.

hairy and when young the whole under surface and the tips of the petioles almost concealed, older petioles more or less closely dotted, the peduncles and pedicels short, densely covered with white hairs. Flowers pink; calyx almost concealed by long hairs, carpels silky.

Habitat: Lake shores subject to flooding.

Type specimen from the shores of Lake Lyndon, between the grassland and the lake, in the Herbarium Plant Research Bureau, Wellington.

Best recognised by the colouring of the leaves and the shortly pedicelled pink flowers.

Var. arenarium var. nov.

Var. glbri simile sed omnino molle aliquantulum carnosum, foliis glaucis.

Similar in habit to var. glabrum, but everywhere soft and somewhat fleshy. Leaves orbicular, closely lobed, divided at the base, unusually appressed to the ground, petioles and peduncles tinged with purple; blade pale glaucous grey, softly and finely pilose. Flowers white.

Habitat: Sand dunes at Stewart Island and the east coast of Otago.

Type specimen from Paterson's Inlet, Stewart Island, in the Herbarium Plant Research Bureau, Wellington.

Cockayne (1909–55), who was of opinion that “if constant from seed it should have a name,” considered this to be a more robust plant than var. glabrum, with longer petioles and peduncles, but such characters are dependent upon the number of stems branching from the rootstock and large plants form rounded leafy masses with their petioles and peduncles elongated to reach the surface. The leaves of small plants lie close to the ground and the flowering stems are short. Seeds dispersed by plants in cultivation are constant in character.

Elaeocarpaceae.

Aristotelia fruticosa Hook. f. var. rigidula var. nov.

Frutex arte divaricatus, c. 1 m. altus; ramuli fusci, apicibus versus pubescentes denique cornei. Folia adulta 2–4—fasciculata, 1 cm. longa, 5–8 mm. lata, late oblonga vel obovata, nonnunquam fere orbiculata, integra, brevissime petiolata. Flores masculi 3–6 racemulose aggregati, pedicellis abbreviatis. Flores feminei solitarii, bracteis, 2–4, lineari-lanceolatis praeditis.

A densely divaricating shrub to 1 m. or more tall; branchlets reddish brown, pubescent at the tips, short, strongly reflexed, tapering to thorn-like tips. Leaves in fascicles of 2–4 on short arrested branchlets, on juveniles or on adventitious shoots 2–3 cm. long, 1–1.5 cm. broad, ovate lanceolate or oblong lanceolate, irregularly and sharply serrate; adult leaves 1 cm. long, 5–8 mm. broad, broadly oblong or obovate, sometimes almost orbicular, entire or in shade occasionally obscurely sinuate or roughly serrate; petioles short, slender; blade thin, glabrous and shining above, lighter beneath

and the reticulation evident. Male flowers 3–6, 2 mm. diam., crowded on short, minutely pubescent, drooping racemes, bright pink or almost white; pedicels short, as long as the flowers, minutely pubescent; sepals 4, oblong, obtuse, pink or greenish, half the length of the petals; petals broadly obovate to almost orbicular, concave, irregular emarginate. Stamens 4–6, crowded on short filaments, shorter than the petals. Female flowers single, drooping, with 2–4 linear lanceolate bracts at the base. Ovary glabrous, conical, extended into a 2 lobed, pink style equalling the petals. Berries globose, 5 mm. diam., changing colour from the green state through white and red to ripen black. Seeds 2, semi-spherical, 2 mm. diam., black, reticulated.

Habitat: Exposed or stony slopes.

Type specimens from Flagstaff Hill near Dunedin, in the Herbarium Plant Research Bureau, Wellington.

Cheeseman's (1925–559) note “frequently solitary” regarding the flowers of Aristotelia fruticosa suggests male and female flowering specimens.

In the wetter districts of the South Island it is a more or less erect plant, or it may be stunted on exposed ridges, but never is it comparable in form with var. rigidula, of which we have specimens also from the head of the Otekaieke River, Dansy's Pass, Central Otago.

Lacking flowers or fruits the variety is difficult to distinguish from Coprosma crassifolia.

Aristotelia erecta Buch.

Cheeseman (1925–559) refers Buchanan's species to the synonymy of A. fruticosa, but from the description (1871–209) of its leaves, “2 in. to 2 ½ in. long,” it would appear to be one of the many forms of A. serrata x fruticosa.

Onagraceae.

Epilobium parviflorum sp. nov.

Herba parva pallide viridis, 10–20 cm. alta, parce ramosa, caulibus sanguineis inferne lignescentibus, e basi arcuata ascendentibus, minute bifariam pubescentibus. Folia inferiora 0.5–1 cm. longa, ovata vel ovato-oblonga, apice rotundata, integra vel denticulis vix indicatis munita, glabra, opposita, petiolis brevibus basi connatis. Folia superiora opposita, floralibus nonnumquam exceptis, ovato-lanceolata, acuta, manifeste dentata. Flores 3–4, in axillis supremis dispositi, parvi, fere sessiles; petala alba; calycis lobis lanceolatis apice obtusis, stigmate cylindrico. Capsula 2–4 mm. longa, glabra, pedicellis 3 cm. longis vel ultra; seminum testa papillosa.

A small pale-green plant 10–20 cm. high, sparsely branched from a semi-woody base, decumbent and the stems ascendent. Stems red, minutely bifariously pubescent. Leaves at the base crowded, 0.5–1 cm. long, ovate or ovate oblong, rounded at the tip, entire or obscurely toothed, glabrous, opposite; petioles short, connate at the base; upper leaves opposite or alternate, ovate lanceolate,

acute, conspicuously toothed. Flowers few, 3–4 in the axils of the upper leaves, small, 5 mm. diam., white, almost sessile but the peduncle elongating to 3 cm. or more in fruit; calyx lobes reddish, lanceolate, with the tips blunted, shorter than the petals; stigma cylindrical. Capsule 2–4 cm. long, glabrous. Seeds minute, papillose, ridged.

Habitat: Grassland on hills on the eastern side of Otago, 300–800 m. altitude.

Type specimen from Flagstaff Hill, near Dunedin, in the Herbarium Plant Research Bureau, Wellington.

A small sparingly branched plant, extremely common in grassland.

Umbelliferae.

Anisotome aromatica Hook. f. var. incisa T. Kirk.

Kirk's variety is described from plants collected at the Broken River, Canterbury. Our specimens from limestone at Woodside Creek, Marlborough, appear to answer his description exactly.

Angelica trifoliolata (Hooker f.) Ckn.

Birch Hill, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, from Mr. W. B. Brockie.

Gentianacea.

Liparophyllum gunnii Hook. f.

Boggy places at Lake Minerva, near Fowler Pass.

Apocynacead.

Parsonsia capsularis Forst. f. var. tenuis var. nov.

A var. rosea differt foliis linearibus vel lineari-lanceolatis, 3–8 cm. longis, 3–4 mm. latis, irregulariter lobatis.

A slender twining climber, with its stems often ropelike, entwined; branchlets pubescent; purplish, 1 mm. diam. Leaves linear or linear lanceolate, 3–8 cm. long, 3–4 mm. broad, acute or subacute, irregularly and unequally lobed, with the lobes decreasing in size from base to tip, purplish, glabrous and shining above, green and the midrib purplish beneath, with the petiole erect and the blade spreading at right angles, rather thick, coriaceous. Occasional leaves small, 1 cm. diam., orbicular and emarginate. Flowers small, 4 mm. diam., in short few flowered cymes at the tips of lateral branchlets or single and opposite in the axils of the leaves; bracts subulate, equalling the pedicels; pedicels short, 3 mm. long; calyx 3 mm. long, teeth subulate, thickened at the base; corolla tube equalling the calyx teeth, barely 2 mm. long, rosy red; limb 4–5 partite; lobes 3 mm. long, spreading, lanceolate and acute, often apparently oblong and truncate at the tip by recurving, white or pinkish, rosy red at the base, anthers exceeding the corolla tube. Capsule not seen.

Habitat: Inland terrace scrub in dry situations.

Type specimens from the Tasman Valley, in the Herbarium Plant Research Bureau, Wellington.

Raoul (1846–17) illustrates his P. rosea with the linear almost entire leaves of P. capsularis and on Banks Peninsula similar plants may have rosy coloured or white flowers.

Boraginaceae.

Myosotis pygmaea Col. var. minutiflora var. nov.

Inter omnes varietates speciei caulibus densissime foliatis, floribus minutis numerossimis distinctissima.

A small sparingly strigose, densely leafy, much branched, green or brownish annual forming close rounded patches to 8–10 cm. diam. Stems numerous, 3–7 cm, long, crowded on a short rootstock, branching, prostrate, with the tips ascendant and the branches overlapping. Roots long and wiry. Radical leaves linear oblong spathulate, 1–2 cm. long, 2 mm. broad, with a broad, flat petiole as long as the blade, dotted with long, white, pointed, strigose hairs; midrib deeply sunken above, prominent beneath. Stem leaves crowded, alternate, linear obovate, 1 cm. long, 2 mm. broad, obtuse, closely imbricating, distichous, sessile by a broad, membranous, sheathing base. Flowers solitary, numerous, one at each of the leaf axils, minute, 1 mm. diam. with the limb spread, pale yellow, sessile. Calyx densely covered with long strigose hairs, deeply divided, inflated, enlarging to 3 mm. long in fruit; lobes obovate, suddenly narrowed to an acute tip. Corolla tube cylindrical, reddish, exceeding the calyx; lobes rounded; scales wide, not inflated. Anthers ovate, acute, altogether included in the tube. Nutlets minute, ovate acute, shining, dark brown to almost black.

Habitat: Moist ground at lake shores.

Type specimen from Lake Lyndon, in the Herbarium, Plant Research Bureau, Wellington.

The variety differs from all the many forms of the species by its densely leafy stems and the many minute flowers.

Myosotis tenuis sp. nov.

Herba annua tenella prostrata, caulibus numerosis inferne aliquantulum lignescentibus, gracilibus, 1 mm. diam., 10–20 cm. longis vel ultra, purpureis, strigosis, multiramosis, apice adscendentibus. Folia remota, alternata, 6–10 mm. longa, viridia, nonnumquam brunneo-tincta, infra pallidiora, venae medio manifeste, utrinque strigosae, petiolis applanatis, laminis orbicularibus, 4–6 mm. diam., breviter apiculatis. Flores solitarii, 3 mm. longi, 4 mm. diam.; pedicellis 1–2 mm. longis, mollissime pubescentibus, in fructu 1 cm. longis.

Calyx 2 mm. longus, strigosus, profunde 5—lobatus, lobis linearibus, obtusis. Corolla alba fauce flava, tubo paulo excedens, 2 mm. longo, squamis 5 lunatis, lobis rotundatis. Stamina sub squamis affixa, filamentis antheris brevioribus, ad squamarum apices vix pertinentia. Nuculae ovoideae, nitentes, compressae, atrobrunneae, marginibus tenuibus.

A slender, prostrate annual with many long, slender stems from a short woody base. Stems woody, slender, 1 mm. diam.; purplish, strigose, branching and rebranching, spreading and interlacing, ascending at the tips, 10–20 cm. or more long, with the nodes widely spaced. Leaves remote, alternate, small, 6–10 mm. long, green, often tinged with brown, paler beneath and the midrib evident, more or less strigose on both surfaces; petiole as long as or much shorter than

the blade, slender, flattened; blade orbicular 4–6 mm. diam., shortly apiculate. Flowers solitary from the stems, opposing the alternate leaves, small, 3 mm. long with the limb spread, 4 mm. diam., white, with a yellow throat; pedicels slender, 1–2 mm. long, softly pubescent elongating to 1 cm. in fruit; calyx 2 mm. long, strigose, 5 lobed to near the base; lobes linear, obtuse, pink tipped; corolla tube slightly exceeding the calyx, 2 mm. long, stoutly funnel shaped; throat with 5 large lunate scales, limb divided into 5 rounded lobes; stamens 5, inserted below the scales; filaments shorter than the anthers, spreading at right angles from the tube; anthers elliptic, narrowed to the ends, erect, the tips barely reaching the level of the scales. Nutlets ovoid, smooth and shining, compressed and the margins thin, dark brown or almost black.

Habitat: Open sparsely covered sunny slopes.

Type specimen in the Herbarium Plant Research Bureau, Wellington, from the Wairoa Gorge, Nelson.

The much-branched woody character of this slender plant differs from all other of the endemic species. Flowers appear in a succession as the stems elongate and flowers and ripe fruits may be collected from a single stem.

Myosotis macrantha Hook. f. et Benth. var. diversa var. nov.

Foliis radicalibus 5–7 cm. longis, 1–1.5 cm. latis, obovatospathulatis, floribus intus albis vel ochroleucis, extus purpureis; corollae tubo 1.5 cm. longo, gracile, infundibuliforme distinguitur.

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Perennial, clothed everywhere with appressed or spreading or curved white hairs. Rootstock stout; flowering stems numerous, erect or ascending, rather stout, sparingly leafy. Radical leaves thin, 5–7 cm. long, 1–1.5 cm. broad, obovate spathulate, rounded at the tip, narrowed to the petiole, light green above, paler green beneath and the midrib evident, both surfaces covered with appressed or curved hairs; petiole 4 mm. broad, equalling the blade; cauline leaves linear obovate, obtuse, pubescent, sessile. Racemes simple, hirsute, scorpioid, many flowered, in a dense capitate head, elongating in fruit. Flowers 2 cm. long, 8 mm. broad, white or yellowish white inside, purple or purplish outside; pedicels short, 1 mm. long; calyx 6 mm. long, hirsute, divided to the receptacle into 5 oblong obtuse lobes; corolla trumpet shaped; tube 3 times the length of the calyx, 1.5 cm. long, slender, lower 2/3 cylindrical, gradually expanded towards the limb; throat with 5 small scales; lobes 3 mm. long, slightly less in breadth, rounded at the tips. Stamens inserted below the scales; filaments rather stout, twice as long as the anthers; anthers wholly above the scales, elliptic, narrowed to subacute tips. Style slender, as long as the limb. Fruits not seen.

Habitat: Stony debris.

Type specimen from the slopes of Mt. Pollux, at the head of the Wilkin River, Lake Wanaka.

The variety differs from other forms of the species in its leaf shape, in the colour and shape of its flowers and especially in its long, slender, trumpet-shaped corolla tube.

Scrophulariaceae.

Glossostigma elatinoides Benth.

Our specimens from seeps on the shores of Lake Manapouri have pale or reddish brown leaves, blue flowers 2 mm. diam., and exserted stamens.

Hebe menziesii Benth.

Near Lake Minerva, head of Freeman River, Lake Manapouri, as Hebe scrub on grassy flats.

Hebe lapidosa Simpn. et Thomn.

Kowai River, Marlborough, 600 m. alt.

Hebe subfulvida sp. nov.

Frutex glaber, 1–3 m. altus vel ultra, rami seniores fulvi, apicibus versus foliati, cicatricosi; rami hornotini cinnamomei, patuli, minute bifariam pubescentes, lineis angustis atris circumdati. Folia opposita decussata nonnumquam recurvata, 2 cm. longa, 4–5 mm. lata, anguste elliptico-oblonga vel lanceolata, acuta, basi rotundata, breviter petiolata, flavo-viridia, supra leviter concava, nervo medio utrinque pagina impressa, marginibus integris. Inflorescentia corymbose racemosa, ramulis 3–4, minute glanduloso-pubescentibus, bracteis lanceolatis acutis, floribus 8 mm. longis, 8 mm. diam., pedicellis ± 2 mm. longis. Calyx 4-partitus, 2 mm. longus, lobis ovatis acutis, marginibus membranaceis ciliolatis. Corolla alba, tubo 4 mm. longo. lobis ovatis, obtusis, 3 mm. longis. Capsula oblonga, acuta, 6 mm. longo, compressa.

A much branched erect or spreading glabrous shrub 1–3 m. or more high. Branches brownish yellow, marked by old leaf scars, leafy toward the tips; young branches yellowish, minutely bifariously pubescent, ringed with dark narrow lines at the leaf bases. Leaves opposite and decussate at intervals of about 5 mm., spreading, often recurved; 2 cm. long, 4–5 mm. broad, narrow elliptic oblong to lanceolate, acute, rounded at the base, shortly petiolate, yellow green, shallowly concave above, rounded beneath, the midrib sunken on both surfaces; margins entire. Racemes in one or two opposite pairs near the tips of the branches, 4 cm. long, exceeding the leaves, corymbosely branched in 3–4 opposite branchlets and a terminal one, minutely glandular pubescent; bracts narrow linear lanceolate, acute. Flowers 8 mm. long, 8 mm. diam. with the limb spread; bracts lanceolate, acute, equalling or shorter than the pedicels; pedicels unequal, ± 2 mm. long; calyx 4 partite, small, 2 mm. long; segments ovate, acute, with ciliolate membranous margins; corolla white; tube much exceeding the calyx, 4 mm. long; lobes ovate, obtuse, 3 mm. long; stamens 2, exserted to nearly the length of the limb; style slender, equalling the stamens. Capsule oblong, acute, 6 mm. long, compressed.

Habitat: Stream banks and forest margins at the Pelorus, Maitai and Tinline Valleys.

Type specimen from the Pelorus Valley, Nelson, in the Herbarium Plant Research Bureau, Wellington.

This is, in the main, the H. menziesii of Cheeseman's Manual (1906–512), and the comments of Cockayne and Allan (1927–25)

We are indebted to Mr. E. S. West, Napier, for plants collected at the Titiokura Saddle, between Napier and Taupo, which substantiate Colenso's observation of character differing from the plant of Mt. Egmont and elsewhere. The leaves are narrowed at the tip, the midrib and veining more prominent than in the type, the margins bluntly serrate rather than lobed, and the edges of the channelled petiole purplish. The lobes of the limb are closely placed, their upper surfaces white or pinkish, and their lower surfaces distinctly purplish, with the veining darker.

The variety is amply distinct, but too near O. macrophylla for more than varietal recognition.

In his later years Colenso no doubt described many trivial forms or epharmonic states of well-established species, but that phase of his work has been over emphasised. We are convinced that a re-examination of the plants he described would appreciably relieve the synonymy which obscures so much of his work.

Compositae.

Lagenophora barkeri T. Kirk var. multidentata var. nov.

A typo differt foliis 2–7 cm. longis, 1–1.5 cm. latis, obovatis vel obovato-spathulatis, obtusis, glabris vel pilis paucis brevibus; laminis sinuatis, vel arte irregulariterque leviter dentatis vel lobatis, lobis breviter apiculatis ciliolatisque.

A slender plant with one or more long slender stems from the base; stems one flowered, 10–12 cm. or more long including the scape, straggling, glabrous, leafy towards the tip. Leaves alternate, 2–7 cm. long, 1–1.5 cm. broad, obovate or obovate spathulate, rounded at the tip, narrowed to the petiole, glabrous or with a few short hairs; petiole as long as the blade; blade sinuate, or closely and irregularly shallow toothed, or lobed and the lobes shortly apiculate, ciliolate at the margins. Scape 5–8 cm. long, glabrous or with a few hairs, pilose under the head, with or without bracts. Head = 6 mm. diam., involucral bracts hyaline, linear, acute, with a dark nerve; ray florets numerous. Ripe achenes not seen.

Habitat: Grass covered openings or edges in rain forest.

Type specimen from the Freeman River Valley, Lake Manapouri, in the Herbarium Plant Research Bureau, Wellington.

A common species in the Fiord Botanical District, straggling amongst grass in moist openings in forest. L. barkeri has scaberulous leaves with their margins distinctly but sparsely toothed.

Brachycome humile sp. nov.

Herba parva, foliis radicalibus, 1–2 cm. longis, lineari-spathulatis, apice versus 1 mm. latis, integris, vel apice versus denticulis parvis paucis munitis, aliquatenus carnosis, glanduloso-maculatis, vel minute glanduloso-pubescentibus. Scapi ± 3 cm. longi, fere filiformes, infra glabri, superne glanduloso-pilosi. Capitulum solitarium ± 6 mm. diam., phyllaribus 9–10 lanceolatis, marginibus sub-purpureis, scariosis. Ligulae ± 12, phyllaribus duplo longiores, oblongae, obtusae, basi pilosae. Achaenia obovoidea, leviter compressa, paucis rigidis pilis praedita, squamas parvas gerentes.