Var. multidentata
L. barkeri var. multidentata Simpson et Thomson in T.R.S.N.Z. 73, 1943, 167.
Type locality: Freeman River. Type: BD 72489, G. Simpson. Possibly worthy of specific rank.
Stems up to ± 12 cm. long, cauline lvs us. ∞.Lamina 15-25 × 8-15 mm., obovate to obovate-spathulate; margins slightly thickened, us. closely irregularly dentately toothed or lobed; teeth us. distinctly apiculate. Petioles 10-25-(30) mm. long. Scapes 5-8 cm. long; capitula 6-8-(10) mm. diam. Achenes 1·25-1·5 × 0·5 mm.; beak erect, 0·5-0.75 mm. long.
DIST.: S. Grassland and forest margins from c. lat. 44° 30' southwards, mainly in wetter areas. Plentiful in Fiordland.
INCERTAE SEDIS
1. L. strangulata Col. in T.N.Z.I. 22, 1890, 471 was based on specimens collected "Among other low herbage, open grounds dry edges of cliffs banks of a stream south of Dannevirke . . . 1888; W. C. Swamps at Rangipo, eastern base of Mount Tongariro . . . 1889; Mr. H. Hill." The description includes: "Plant small, slender, graceful, erect, slightly tufted . . . Leaves 9-13, dark-green, sub- (sometimes oblate-) orbicular, 3-5 lines diameter, base somewhat sub-truncate and abruptly tapering, margins crenate-serrate, usually only 2 serratures on each side, rarely 3 and when so confined to the one side, serratures and tip apiculate, membranous, minutely reticulate, strigosely hairy on both surfaces; hairs long, flaccid, jointed and strangulated, patent . . . Scape slender . . . 3 in.-41/2 in., with 1-2 minute distant linear acuminate bracts . . . Head small 21/2 lines diameter . . . Ray-florets 14-16, limb linear, very membranous, much recurved . . . Achene fusiform, turgid, minutely and thickly tuberculate throughout." At K there are 5 flowering rosettes with scapes ± 8 cm. long, laminae 10-12 × 8-9 mm. The name is given as a synonym of L. petiolata by Cheeseman (Man. N.Z. Fl. 1925, 905).
2. L. forsteri var. minima Kirk Stud. Fl. 1899, 257. L. petiolata var. minima Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 1906, 273. L. pumila var. minima Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 1925, 905. Kirk's description is: "1 in.-2 in. high. Leaves very membranous, including the petiole 1/2 in.-1 in. long, obovate or suborbicular, gradually narrowed into a slender petiole; teeth rounded at the apex, with two teeth or lobes on each side, rarely shortly pinnate at base, teeth mucronate. Scapes filiform. Heads 1/4 in.-⅓. in diameter. Achenes convex, shortly beaked, rounded at the margins.
NORTH Island: Great Omaha and other places north of the Waitemata, T.K." No type is indicated, but there are Great Omaha specimens in W. Similar small forms occur locally in both N. and S. The status of the various forms placed here in herbaria cannot be determined without cultural studies.
3. L. purpurea Kirk Stud. Fl. 1899, 257. L. pumila var. purpuratea (Kirk) Simpson in T .R.S.N.Z. 75, 1945, 196. Kirk's description is: "Stems leafy below, naked above, erect, slender, grooved, 4 in.-6 in. high, pubescent or puberulous. Leaves including the petiole 11/2 in. long, membranous, ovate, radical and cauline, rather distant, truncate at base, rounded at the apex, serrate or crenate-serrate, teeth apiculate, pubescent on both surfaces, ciliate, purple beneath. Heads 1/3 in.-1/2 in. in diameter; involucral bracts in about 3 rows, linear, acute, with scarious margins, keeled, midrib distinct. often tipped with purple. Achenes oblanceolate, compressed, with a rather long beak and thin margins. SOUTH Island: Catlin's River, T.K." Cheeseman (Man. N.Z. Fl. 1925, 906) repeats the description and remarks: "This appears to be founded on three immature specimens in Mr. Kirk's herbarium . . . It is probably nothing more than a large state of L. petiolata". In W I have found only one specimen named by Kirk. This does not fit his description very well; there are three cauline lvs, laminae 11-16 × 5-12 mm., broadly oblong to obovate, abruptly cuneate at base; margins with triangular-dentate strongly apiculate teeth; petioles 10-25 mm. long, very slender. Scape c. 10 cm. long, very slender, ± pubescent, nude. Capitulum immature, c. 5 mm. diam.; phyll. linear-oblong, margins scarious. The populations at Catlins need further study. Two small rosettes in early flower collected "Camp Cove Valley, Campbell Is. R. L. Oliver 15/1/44" BD 76114 have rosulate lvs; laminae ± 5-7 × 3 mm., rather narrowly obovate-cuneate, rather closely finely dentate; scape slender, c. 10 mm. long; capitula 5-7 mm. diam., phyll. narrow-oblong, margins hyaline. These may belong here, and are identified on the label as L. purpurea by W. R. B. Oliver.
4. There is an unmounted sheet of specimens in W labelled "Brachycome barkeri, Trio Islets, W.R.B.O. Jan. 1922". Rosulate lvs not present. There are 9 stems, apparently erect or ascending, very slender, c. 10-15 cm. long, sparingly clad in patent hairs. Lvs up to 12, rather distant, ascending. Laminae decreasing in size upwards 15-6 × 12-4 mm.; obovate to obovate-oblong, cuneate to subtruncate at base, thin; margins irregularly crenate-dentate, teeth apiculate. Petioles very slender, 20-6 mm. long, ascending. Stems continued into slender erect scapes up to ± 15 cm. long, glab. or nearly so, nude or with 1-2 minute filiform bracts. Capitula ± 10 mm. diam.; phyll. linear-oblong, margins scarious. The habitat conditions are not given.
In W, included in a L. pumila folder, is a very slender form labelled "L. barkeri boggy ground Head of Eweburn Creek Maniototo Co. D. Petrie 10:1:1911". There are ∞ specimens with rosulate (few remaining) and cauline (us. several) lvs similar, decreasing in size upwards. Stems very slender to subfiliform, up to c. 5 cm. long, continued into subfiliform scapes. Laminae 12-5 × 6-3 mm., very thin, coarsely dentate-serrate, teeth apiculate; petioles subfiliform, 15-10 mm. long. Scapes 8-10 cm. long, glab. or nearly so, nude or with a minute filiform bract. Capitula ± 5-7 mm. diam. Phyll. oblong, toothed at apex, scarious margins narrow. Achenes obliquely narrow-obovate, c. 1·5 mm. long, margins very slightly thickened; beak < 1 mm. long. There are similar, fewer specimens labelled: "Langenophora Forsteri. D.C. var. Naseby 1800 ft. Dec. 1882, D.P."
