Flora of New Zealand Series

Original localities: Dusky Bay and Chalky Inlet.

Stems us. several, decumbent and rooting at base, then ascending to erect, simple or sparingly branched, up to ± 2 dm. long, us. shorter. Lvs sessile, very coriac., at first erect, then patent, finally reflexed, semi-amplexicaul; (3)-6-9-(10) × 3-4 mm.; ovate- to obovate-oblong, obtuse, subcucullate. Costa prominent on undersurface, tapering from wide base; margins pale, cartilaginous. Peduncles slender, up to 10 cm. or more long, 1-2-fld. Bracts 1-3, obtuse, linear- to narrow-oblong, ± 5 mm. long. Fls ± 12-15 mm. diam. Calyx-lobes 5-6, narrow-oblong, ±4 mm. long, apiculate. Corolla white, (6)-8-12 mm. long, 6-lobed; lobes obovate-oblong, ± retuse, with 2 linear glands at base. Epig. glands 2, narrow-clavate. Column short; anthers sessile, reniform; stigma 2-lobed. Capsule oblong-clavate; placentae free-central.

DIST.: S., St. Higher montane and subalpine herbfield and damp places from lat. 40° southwards, mainly on central and western ranges, descending to almost sealevel in Fiordland.

FL. 11-3. FT. 1-5.

Linnaeus f. says: "Flores albi, fauce et calyce interiore rubentibus." Cheeseman (Man. N.Z. Fl. 1906, 393) describes his var. oculata : "Flowers much larger, 1/2-3/4 in. diam., usually with a dark eye." I have not been able to trace any definite correlation between fl.-size and development of an "eye", which is us. a very dark red. Similar "eyed" fls occur in F. mackayi, the eye being sts like that of F. sedifolia, sts yellow.