Flora of New Zealand Series

Stout, much-branched shrub, to c. 1 m tall, dwarfed at higher altitudes; branchlets with sparse setose hairs. Lvs alternate; petioles very short, stout. Lamina 7-15-(25) × 5-7-(10) mm, narrow- to broad- elliptic or suborbicular, very thick and coriaceous, usually shallowly concave above; margins finely crenulate-serrulate; base ± rounded; apex rounded to acute or apiculate. Racemes to ± 4 cm long, with hairy axes, terminal and subterminal, simple or sometimes forming panicles; pedicels to c. 5 mm long, glabrous or puberulent; bracteoles oblong to triangular-ovate, subacute, c. 2 mm long. Calyx lobes triangular-ovate, 2.5-3 mm long, acute or short-acuminate. Corolla urceolate; tube c. 3.5 mm long; lobes triangular, obtuse. Capsule c. 2 mm diam., loosely invested by persistent dry calyx.

N.: from Ruahine Range southwards; S.

Endemic.

Montane to alpine scrub, shrubland, open and rocky places.

FL Oct-Dec.

This sp. is very closely related to G. colensoi and G. rupestris, particularly the former from which it is mainly distinguished by the scattered setose hairs on the stems and by the more strictly terminal racemes. From G. rupestris it is distinguished by the shorter, generally more coriaceous lvs, with ± rounded bases and the usually simple racemes. Also, G. crassa usually grows on the drier eastern sides of mountain ranges whereas G. rupestris occurs in wetter areas, generally in the west. There are ± intermediate plants in some central areas of the South Id and probably elsewhere. G. colensoi occurs in the North Id, mainly on the Volcanic Plateau and Ruahine Range. The whole group is in need of further detailed studies, particularly in the southern North Id and N. and C. South Id.