Flora of New Zealand Series

H. murrellii Simpson et Thomson in T.R.S.N.Z. 73, 1943, 165.

Type locality: Sources of the Freeman River, near Fowler Pass, Lake Manapouri. Type: BD 75695, G. Simpson and J. S. Thomson, March 1942.

Lf-bases barely connate. Bracts 3·5-5 × 1·7-2 mm., oval, us. all subtending fls. Calyx-lobes 2.5-4 mm. long, broad, obtuse, rather even in size and without rudimentary fifth lobe. Corolla 4-6 mm. long, lobes 2-3 × tube, broadly oval. Capsule ?

DIST.: S. Kepler Range. Moist shaded openings amongst rocks.

 Var. murrellii is known only from the original collection, which, though ample, has the disadvantage that some of the infls seem to be diseased and there are no normally developed capsules.

Meagre specimens from two different collections from Takitimu Mts suggest that further material might bridge the gap between the two vars. Fl.-differences at first look definitive, but in var. petriei there is a wide range in size of parts, to some extent correlated with a tendency to dioeciousness; larger corollas are us. associated with long filaments, large anthers, long styles and small stigmas-smaller corollas with small, almost sessile anthers, short styles, active-looking stigmas, and, at least sts, with frs. A similar range is suggested, though not fully illustrated, by available material of  var. murrellii.