Flora of New Zealand Series

Leptinella dioica Hook. f. Fl. N.Z. 1, 1853, 129.

Stems rather stout, much-branched, creeping, rooting, glab. or with scattered hairs; plants forming dense to rather open patches up to c. 3 dm. diam. Lvs tufted at nodes or alt. Lamina membr., ± flaccid, dull green, glab. or nearly so, broad- to narrow-obovate to spathulate, obtuse, ± 20-30 × 5-9 mm. (but see also description of vars) on slender petioles up to ± 15 mm. long; upper portion crenately toothed, lower portion pinnatifid to pinnatisect; segs 6-8 pairs, subopp., oblong, subacute, entire, or upper margins with a few teeth, lowest segs minute. Scapes axillary, ± pubescent, c. 3 cm. long, nude; receptacle convex. Capitula of ♀ 8-10 mm. diam.; phyll. several in 3-4 series, inturned and concealing florets. Capitula of ♂ 4-7 mm. diam.; phyll. few. in c. 2 series, orbicular-oblong, pubescent, with broad purple scarious margins. Florets eglandular; ♀ subconic, inflated at base, minutely 4-toothed at apex; ♂ funnelform. Achenes obovoid, slightly curved, rounded at back, c. 2 mm. long, glab.

DIST.: N., S., St. Coastal and occ. inland from c. lat. 36° southwards: saltmeadow, beach margins, dune hollows; damp grassland, streamsides, boggy places. Doubtfully recorded for Auckland Id (Cockayne, T.N.Z.I. 36, 1903, 321).

A distinct but very polymorphic sp. with many forms. Probably, on thorough study, the complex will be split up into a number of spp., but too little is known at present of the degree of plasticity and the extent of hybridism, if any. The plants are easy to grow, and a monograph study would be welcome. Cheeseman (Man. N.Z. Fl. 1906, 359) remarked: "A most puzzling plant, exceedingly variable in the size of the leaves and the extent to which they are toothed or divided, and also varying much in the size of the flower-heads. Mr. Kirk divided it into three species; but these are closely connected by intermediate forms, and cannot always be distinguished by the descriptions he has given." Later (Man. N.Z. Fl. 1925, 1000-1001) he accepted Kirk's segregations, but remarked: "It is much to be wished that some botanist resident in the southern portion of the Dominion would investigate, with the aid of fresh specimens, the differences between the three species C. obscura, C. pulchella, and C. dioica." The late Mr. G. Simpson gathered many forms and grew them in his garden, but died before he was able to publish his results.

Hooker's disposition of the forms before him when drawing up his diagnosis of Leptinella dioica was: "glaberrima v. parce pilosa, foliis late. v. anguste lineari-oblongis obovatisve longe petiolatis crenatis serratis lobatis inciso-pinnatifidisve segmentis subacutis oblongis, scapis sericeis, involucri squamis pauci- v. pluri-seriatis, capitulis homogamis, flosculis glaberrimis. Cotula dioica, Banks et Sol. MSS et Ic. Soliva tenella, A. Cunn. Prodr.? (fide exemplar mancum in Herb. Heward.)

" Var. α; foliis glabratis long petiolatis lineari-oblongis spathulatisve inciso-pinnatifidis lobis curvis integerrimis serratisve: (capitula ♀ solum visa.)

" Var. ß; foliis glabratis longe petiolatis late obovatis rotundatisve crenato-lobatis lobis apiculatis: (capitula ♀ solum visa.)

" Var. γ. pusilla; caule robusto flexuoso, foliis brevius petiolatis forma var. α serrato-lobatis subpinnatifidisve: (capitula ♂ solum visa.)

"HAB. Northern and Middle Islands; probably common. Var. α and ß. East Coast; Cape Turnagain, Colenso; Akaroa, Raoul. Var. γ Cape Turnagain, Colenso. This species presents much variety in foliage, if all the varieties cited are not different species; and appears further to be constantly dioecious".

The specimens referred to by Hooker are at K but in poor condition.