Flora of New Zealand Series

Chenopodium buchanani Kirk in T.N.Z.I. 22, 1898, 447.

Type locality: Port Nicholson. Type: W, T. Kirk.

Prostrate to decumbent, much-branched, monoec. herb up to ± 30 cm. diam., woody at base; branches terete, stiff, wiry, pale brown; branchlets slender, ± clad in farinose tomentum. Lvs on petioles 1-5 mm. long; lamina oblong to ovate-oblong, to suborbicular, entire, farinose on both surfaces, 3-7 × 2-5 mm. Fls ± 1·5 mm. long, axillary, solitary or in clusters of 2-5. ♂ mostly near tips of branchlets; per. cut to ± halfway into 5 oblong, minutely papillose segs; stamens 5, well exserted, with filiform filaments. ♀ per. minute; stigmas 2; seeds minute, compressed, minutely punctulate, adhering to suborbicular utricle. Bracteoles urceolately united, 2-lipped, remaining small, but concealing utricle.

DIST.: N. Sandy and rocky shores of Cook Strait. S. Similar situations south- wards to islets of Foveaux Strait. Plentiful inland in salt patches in Central Otago.