Flora of New Zealand Series

Leaves usually quadrifid to 0.6–0.65(0.75), the lobes slenderly lanceolate, (4)6–9 cells wide at the base, usually lacking cilia, on larger leaves occasionally with 1(2) teeth at the lobe bases, the lobe apices short-acuminate, formed of 3–5(6) superposed cells; disc relatively low (height always inferior to length of lobes), up to a maximum of 7–9(10) cells high. Leaf surfaces distinctly verrucose or papillose. Oil-bodies rather large for cell size, (2)3–5(6) per cell, 4.5–6.5 × 4.5–9 µm.

♀ Bracts variable, ± subquadrate, 4(5)-fid to 0.5–0.6(0.65); lobes with cilia unequal, from 1–2 to 4–5(6) pairs per lobe. Perianth normally ± reduced, slenderly ovoid to ovoid-campanulate, ± crispulate-lobulate at mouth, the mouth armed with short, spinose teeth or cilia to 2–4 cells long usually; with maturation a long neck usually develops from elaboration of receptacular tissue, elevating the perianth on a stipe often equal in length to the perianth proper; the 3 bracts, widely separated, occur on this stipe.

Distribution and Ecology : New Zealand: Campbell Island, South Island (600–1540 m), North Island; Australia: New South Wales. Known from Fiordland (Lake Manapouri, Takahe Valley), Otago (Dunstan Mtns., Naseby, Remarkables), Westland (Upper Otira River valley), Canterbury (Upper Bealey valley, Danseys Pass), Southern North Island (Ruahine Ra.) and Gisborne (Wairoa) EPs.

According to Schuster (1967a, p. 342), the variety often occurs “in open, insolated areas where it is subject to drying out; here found occasionally associated with Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium).” In moist sites occurring on thin soil over limestone (Ruahine Ra.). In the Otira River valley it was found under a soil overhang next to a stream, with Balantiopsis convexiuscula, Breutelia pendula, Ditrichum punctulatum, Lepidozia obtusiloba, Riccardia crassa and Triandrophyllum subtrifidum. In Central Otago it was in an alpine cushion bog on the edge of a stream, with Allisonia cockaynei, Bryum laevigatum, Clasmatocolea strongylophylla, Riccardia bipinnatifida, Syntrichia robusta and Warnstorfia fluitans.