Flora of New Zealand Series

Glabrous, branched subshrub to c. 50 cm high; stems erect, to c. 12 mm diam., somewhat wider towards base, pink with purplish bloom when young. Lvs opposite, subsessile or with broad petioles to 5 mm long. Lamina 3.5-7 × 2.5-5 cm, c. 2 mm thick, broadly elliptic or broadly elliptic-obovate, to almost rhombic, greenish brown with pale glaucous-purple bloom, shallowly crenate in upper 1/2; base cuneate; apex rounded. Infl. a large, broadly pyramidal panicle, rather flattened above. Pedicels 7-15 mm long; bracts numerous, larger towards base of infl. Calyx 7-15 mm long, divided almost to base; lobes unequal, lanceolate-oblong, green, acute. Corolla tube 13-14 mm long, dilated towards base, green or greenish yellow; lobes patent, 8-11 × 4.5-7 mm, ± elliptic, golden; apex mucronate. Stamens very unequal; outer (upper) whorl with filaments adnate to corolla for most of length; inner (lower) whorl with filaments c. 2 mm long. Carpels (including styles) 12-16 mm long. Scales 3-4 mm long, linear with forked apex. Follicles 9-10 mm long, including beak. Seed not seen.

N.: known from 1 locality only, Okarari Stream, near Taheke-Horeke Road, S. side Hokianga Harbour, N. Auckland.

E. Africa 1988

On boulders and steep banks on valley floor near river.

FL Oct-Dec.

Although this attractive succulent has only been collected recently, there are many plants and it has probably been wild for many years. Descriptions of this sp. usually state that the lvs are sessile but in the wild N.Z. plants (possibly only 1 clone is represented) they have a very short broad petiole. In this respect the plants resemble the related K. marmorata Baker with which K. grandiflora has been confused. However, K. marmorata has white fls and lvs which are usually covered with purplish or brownish blotches.