Flora of New Zealand Series

Stout, glabrous, perennial herb up to c. 0.6 m high, rarely scrambling up to 3 m. Stems simple or branched, woody toward base. Lvs always alternate, linear to elliptic, narrow-obovate, or lanceolate, acute to acuminate, 1-3-nerved, entire, (2)-5-30 mm long. Infl. of few to many fls in a simple or compound corymb; sepals elliptic-oblong to broadly elliptic, acute to acuminate, 5-10-(15) mm long, < or ± = capsule; petals white or sometimes tinged pale blue, 10-25 mm long; styles united for 3/4 length or more. Capsule subglobose, dehiscent, (4)-5-10 mm diam.; seeds elliptic and slightly narrowed to base, shiny light to dark brown, 4-5 mm long.

N.: south of 36°; S.; St.; Ch.

Endemic.

Banks and cliffs, often coastal but also inland.

FL Sep-Mar.

L. monogynum is an attractive perennial with conspicuous white fls.