Flora of New Zealand Series

Type: CHR 78929, W. B. Brockie, Jan. 1954.

Plant us. rising only a few cm. from the ground but reaching diam. of 10–40 cm. Lvs 3–7 mm. wide, ± horizontally spreading. Peduncle very short, scarcely emerging from lf-sheaths, rarely exceeding raceme-length. Raceme at fl. 1–2.5 × 1.5 cm., elongating little at fr.; fls densely crowded; bracts c. = pedicels, with broad, pale, membr. sheathing base, covering young buds but in fr. almost hidden; pedicels short, spreading, hardly visible. Fls yellow but the nerve in each tepal green externally, bisexual; per. 7–11 mm. diam., shrivelled and tangled at base of ripe capsule. Ovary and capsule stipitate, the capsule globose above the gynophore, 3.5–6.5 mm. diam. Seeds c. 3.5 mm. long, brown, smooth, rounded and without wings. 2n = 14.

DIST.: S., known only from the Gouland Downs, N.W. Nelson, locally abundant in open boggy places.

FL. 12–1. FT. 12–2.

Plants in cultivation have maintained their distinctive low habit of growth over more than 10 years.