Flora of New Zealand Series

V. astonii Petrie in T.N.Z.I. 40, 1908, 288.

H. astonii (Petrie) Ckn. et Allan in T.N.Z.I. 57, 1926, 39.

Type locality: Mt. Hector, Tararua Range. Type: W, 5307, D. Petrie, 25.1.07.

Plant small; branchlets slender, 1-1·5-(2) mm. diam., only slightly tetragonous. Lvs 1·5-2 mm. long, spreading, strongly concavo-convex, deltoid-oblong.

DIST.: N. Ruahine and Tararua Ranges, Pouakai Range.

Petrie's sp. is retained as a var. until its relationship to stouter plants approaching the type of V. subsimilis is better known. The extremes are very different but there are intermediate forms on both the Tararua and Ruahine Ranges, and it may not be possible to maintain the small plants described by Petrie as a separate entity.