Flora of New Zealand Series

Chrysobactron rossii Hook. f. Fl. Antarct.  1,  1844,  72, t. 44–45.

Anthericum rossii (Hook. f.) Hook. f. Handbk N.Z. Fl.  1864,  285.

Type locality: Auckland Id. Type: K, J. D. Hooker.

Dioec.; plant very stout, sts 1 m. tall and to 4 cm. diam. at base. Lvs 1.5–6 cm. wide, obtuse to subacute, tips recurved; nerves slightly prominent and easily felt in living lf. Peduncle to 1 cm. diam., us. < lf-length. Raceme to 15 × 6 cm., ± cylindric; fls very ∞ and densely crowded; bracts c. = pedicels in female and conspicuous in bud, in male < pedicels; pedicels 1–2 cm. long, swollen just below fl. Fls 10–14 mm. diam.; tepals oblong-ovate, spreading in ♂, in ♀ more erect and remaining so and hardening as fr. ripens. Stamens < tepals; anthers well filled with pollen in ♂, in ♀ filaments shorter and anthers abortive. Ovary c. 2 mm. long, broad to base. Capsule to 1 cm. long, broadly ovoid, without gynophore. Seeds 4–6 mm. long, dark and narrowly winged. 2n = 14.

DIST.: A., C.

FL. (10)–12–(1). FT. 12–1–2.

Sorensen (D.S.I.R. Cape Exped. Ser. Bull. 7, 1951, 28) records this sp. on C.: "All over island from sea-level to high in the hills". On A., Godley (Proc. Ecol. Soc. N.Z. 12, 1965, 58) regards it as a member of a "distinctive group of species characteristic of or confined to the higher altitudes", suggesting that the almost pure and quite extensive stands on low-lying Enderby Island are a result of modification.