Flora of New Zealand Series

L. clavatum var. magellanicum Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. 1, 1844, 113 non Swartz Syn. Fil. 1806, 180.

L. clavatum var. fastigiatum (R. Br.) Benth. Fl. Aust. 7, 1878, 675.

L. curvifolium Col. in T.N.Z.I., 20, 1888, 234.

L. scopulosum Col. loc. cit. 235.

L. decurrens Col. in T.N.Z.I., 28, 1896, 617.

Rhizome stout, branching, up to 15 dm. long. Aerial branches erect; up to 3 dm. long or more, occ. prostrate, occ. sublianoid, densely branched above, branches fastigiate. Lvs closely imbricate, incurved at tips, 3-5 mm. long, linear-lanceolate, acute to mucronate, midrib obscure. Strobili stalked, erect, solitary, paired, or several together, 2-5 cm. long. Sporophylls closely imbricate, broad-ovate, narrowed to long patent or recurved cusp; margins entire, scarious towards base.

DIST.: N., S., St., Ch., A., C., Ant. Common in montane and subalpine grassland, bog and moorland, Also lowland in south of S. Victoria, Tasmania.

Varies greatly in stature according to habit conditions.

Nessel (loc. cit. 316-317) accepts L. magellanicum Sw. Syn. Fil. 1806, 180, as occurring in the N.Z. region and distinct from L. fastigiatum.

Roots c. 5 cm. long, main axis creeping. Lateral branches 4-5 times shortly branched, 4-6·5 cm. long; branchlets densely approximate. Lvs ascending, somewhat appressed, 2-4 mm. long, middle nerve evident. Strobili sessile or nearly so, often 15-25 together; sporophylls broad-oval. A. and C., Hooker and Lyall (Herb. Hooker, London).

var. Berggrenii Hert. Main axis usually more above ground; lateral branches unequal, 7-20 cm. long, lvs linear, 1·5-2 mm. long; strobili shortly stalked, 2-4 cm. long, solitary. Based on specimens collected by Berggren at Omatangi, Taupo and Mount Ruapehu (Herb. Stockholm).

Nessel (loc. cit. 323) records L. fastigiatum var.  Colensoi Heberl. as occurring in N.Z. (Herb. Munich) as well as in N.S.W. and Victoria. Main axis below ground, branches 5-8 cm. long, ascending, much branched. appressed. Lvs 3-4 mm. long, middle nerve evident. Strobili shortly stalked, 1·5-2 cm. long, solitary or paired.