FLORA. OF NEW ZEALAND. [ScTOpllulctrinecB.
spathulatis obtusis integerrimis, coroUa pilosa v. glabrata, staminibus 4. Tricboloma elatinoides, Benth. in
BC. Prodr. v. 10.,). 426. Lobelia submersa, A. Cnnn. Prodr. fid. Eeri. Reward.
Hab. Northern Island, common in wet places, Cunningham, Colenso, etc.
Gen. VI. LIMOSELLA, L.
Cahjx campanulatus, 5-dentatus. Cbrafe tubus brevis, subrotato-campanulatus ; limbo 5-fido. «(«-
»¡¿M 4 ; antberaram loculis confluentibus. Stylus brevis; stigmate incrassato, breviter bifido. Cagmila
2- (raro 3-) valvis ; valvis iutegris, dissepimeuto tenuissimo incompleto placentifero libero parallelis.
A genus of very small delicate flaccid plants, growing in marshes, sometimes imdev water, generaUy in temperate
climates. Tbe only New Zealand species is also found in Europe. Tasmama, Australia, the Falkland Islands.
Kerguelen’s Land, throughout North and South America, and is a native of England : it is thus characterized.
Everywhere quite smooth. Stems none or creeping; throwing out white fibrous roots aud fascicles of leaves.
Raves 1 - l i inch long, linear or subulate, blunt or dilated at the apex. Peduncles solitary, or several from the
roots, short. Flowers very minute, white. Oalyx bell-shaped, five-toothed. CoroUa obscurely two-lipped, between
rotate and bell-shaped ; limb five-toothed or -lobed. Stamens four ; anther-eells confluent. Style short ; stigma
thickened. Capsule rounded, often on a curved pedicel, two-valved. partially two-celled ; valves entire, parallel to
the dissepiment. (Name from limus, a marsh ; in allusion to the place of growth.)
1. LimoseUa Linn., var. tenuifolia; foliis linearibus lineari-subulatisve obtusis dilatatisve,
coroUæ lobis ovaU-oblongis tubo calycis multoties brevioribus. Fl. Antarct. p . 334. L. tenuifolia, Nuttall;
Benth. in BC. Prodr. v. 8. p . 427. L. anstraUs, Br. Prodr. p. 443.
Hab. Tbrougbout the Islands. Common in wet places, Sinclair, etc. Euapuke Island, Lyall. (A
native of England.)
:l!!>
Gen. V II. VERONICA, L.
Calyx S-5-partitus. CoroUa rotata v. breviter campanulata, 4-loba ; laciniis patentibus, lateralibus
sæpe angustioribus. Stamina 2, ad latera laciniæ superioris inserta. Stylus elongatus ; stigmate subcapitato.
Capsula compressa, bisulcata ; carpellis dorso loculicide debiscentibus, marginibus iuflexis columnæ
placentiferæ adhærentibus v. ab ea septicide solutis; v. capsula septicida cum columna placentifera biparti-
bibs. Benth. in BC. Prodr.
One of the most extensive and beautiful genera of New Zealand plants, abounding in all the Islands, and forming
a greater proportion of the Flora in them than in any other part of the world. Species are found in all temperate
climates, and in some tropical mountains, but in very different proportions. In Europe and North Africa they
abound, but are scarce throughout America. Many are found in North Asia, a few in the Himalaya, in Australia,
and Tasmania, none in Norfolk Island or in the Pacific Islands. Of the shrubby species, many are very well
marked; others ran very muoh into stirpes and varieties. Although the species hybridize with great facility, they
cannot be said to be quite so puzzUng on the whole as the other great New Zealand genera, especially FpUobium
and Coprosma. There are probably too many species made, in the first group especiaUy. The size of the
flowers is a conspicuous but deceptive character, as Mr. Bentham informs mo, who has observed the perennial European
species to present two varieties, one with large blue and the other with smaller pink flowers. Small trees
shrubs, or creeping herbs, with opposite exstipulate leaves, and racemose, often blue, flowers. Calyx generally
four-partite. CoroUa rotate or campanulate with a very short tube, deeply four-lobed; lateral lobes generally
smaller than the others, sometimes with the lower lobe smaUest. Stamens two; filaments slender ; anthers two-
oeUed. StyU slender, with a small capitate stigma. (Name from lepa eiKcsu, tlui sacred picture; because the flowers
of a European species were said to bear a representation of our Saviour.)
FLORA OE NEW ZEALAND. Ji l l I
§ a. Sh'ubs with coriaceous, perennial, decussate, glabrous, entire (not toothed) leaves, in rather remote pairs.
Racemes axillary, many-Jlowered. Capsule septicidal ; valves bifid.
1. YoxQmca Macroura, Hook, fil.; fruticosa, glaberrima, ramis teretibus, foliis sessilibus obovato-oblougis
lauceolatisve, racemis axillaribus densifioris puberulis, sepalis oblongis obtusis v. subacutis, capsula
calyce vix duplo longiore. Benth. in DC. Drodr. v. 8. p . 459.
H a b . Northern Island. East Cape, Wangarei, Cook’s Straits, etc., Colenso, etc.
A shrub 1-6 feet higb. Branches terete. Leaves 14-2g inches long, obovate or oblong-lanceolate, or lanceolate,
sessile, hardly acute, with a faint white edge. Racemes opposite, axillary, strict, pubescent or smooth, longer
than the leaves, blunt. Flowers very numerous and densely crowded, \ inch long. Corolla of a beautiful blue,
shortly tubular. Calyx lobes 1 line long, oblong, blunt. Capsules small (4 inch), crowded on curved or pendulous
racemes ; pedicels recurved or spreading, or all curved one way ; valves acute, not twice as long as the calyx lobes.—
This species approaches very closely some states of Y. salicifolia.
2. Veronica speciosa, R. Cunu. ; fruticosa, glaberrima, ramis crassis teretibus, foliis late obovato-
oblongis breve crasse petiolatis basi obtusis truncatis cordatis v. in petiolum angustatis, racemis subterrai-
nalibus brevibus obtusis latis densifioris, radii stricta crassa, sepalis ovatis acutis tubo corollæ amplæ
brevioribus, capsula calyce plus duplo longiore. Bot. Mag. t. 4057 et sub 3461. Benth. I. c.
H a b . Northern and Middle Islands. By the sea coast, Hokianga, Cunningham. Ship Cove and .Port
Nicholson, Lyall. Nat. name, “ Titi raiigi,’’ Middle Island, Lyall. (Cultivated in England.)
A laro-e shrub, one of the most beautiful when in flower, also the largest-leaved of the genus. Branches terete.
Leaves rather crowded, 3-4 inches long, obovate, blunt, narrowed into the very short thick petiole, or blunt or cordate
at the very base. Racemes quite glabrous, short, broad, not much longer than tbe leaves ; rachis stout. Sepals ovate,
acute, shorter than the tube of the corolla. Corolla very large, nearly 4 inch across, a beautiful wine-purple, with
stout filaments and large anthers. Capsules densely crowded, 3-4 lines long, tluice as long as the sepals.
3. Veronica Diefenbachii, Benth. ; fruticosa, glaberrima, foliis bneari-oblongis subobtusis basi parum
angustatis amplexicaulibus, racemis axiUaribus folio longioribus glabris, sepalis lanceolatis acutis corollæ
tubo brevioribus, capsula ovoidea subacuta calyce subtriplo longiore. Benth. I. c.
H a b . Chatham Island, Dieffenhach.
I have only seen one specimen of this plant, which entirely resembles Y. speciosa in most respects, but the
leaves, though as long, are narrower, the raceme longer, flowers smaller, pale blue. It quite resembles what a cross
between Y. Macroura and Y. speciosa might be supposed to yield.
4. Veronica salicifolia, Forst. ; frutescens v. subarborea, ramulis glabris junioribus subcompressis,
foliis subsessilibus amplexicaiilibusve lanceolatis acutis integerrimis compressis, racemis densifioris glandu-
loso-pubesceiitibiis glabratisve foliis longioribus densifioris acuminatis, sepalis oblongo-lanceolatis acutis
acummatisve corollæ tubo bre\doribus, capsula calyce subduplo longiore. Forst. Prodr. Banks et Sol. MSS.
et Ic. Fndl. Aim. 3Ius. Yind. v. 1. t. 14. A. Cunn. Frodr. Benth. I. c. V. Lindleyana, Faxt. Mag. Bot.
Yar. stricta; capsulis minoribus acutioribus, calyce birsutiore. Y . stricta, Banks et Sol. 3ISS.
Benth. I. c.
H a b . Tbrougbout the Islands, very abundant. Banks and Solander, etc. Fl. all tbe year round.
(Cultivated in England.)
A very common shrub or small diffusely-branched tree, everywhere quite smooth, except the raceme, wliich is
often pubescent. Leaves sessile or half-clasping the stem, 3-6 inches long, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, acute or
acuminate, very variable in length and breadth. Racemes sometimes 10 inches long, and slender, with numerous