Flora of New Zealand Series

G. peruviana auct. non  L. Sp. Pl. 1753, 17.

Type locality: "in bogs at Mangamuka on the Hokianga River". Type: K, R. Cunningham. In type folder are 4 pieces.

Small glab. or slightly viscid-pubescent herb with stems ascending to erect from prostrate base, rather stout, laxly branched, up to 3 dm. tall; branches ascending to erect. Lvs sessile or subsessile, opp., ovate to lanceolate to suboblong, occ. linear-lanceolate, 6-10-(20) × 4-6-(10) mm., entire or with rather distant triangular teeth. Fls axillary on slender peduncles up to 10 mm. long. Calyx-lobes narrow-lanceolate, ± attenuate, obtuse, to narrow ovate-lanceolate, ± 5 mm. long. Corolla 10-12 mm. long, white to yellowish with yellow throat, lips < tube. Anthers connivent, cells parallel, transverse; staminodes filiform. Capsule ± ovoid-globose, c. 5 mm. long, thin-walled.

DIST.: N., S. Coastal to lowland bogs and swamp margins throughout, ± local in S.

FL.- FT. 10-4.

Kirk (T.N. Z.I. 3, 1871, 165) has: "Gratiola latifolia, R. Br. A sub-erect or prostrate herb, stems often rooting at the base, ascending 6"-12" high, glabrous. Leaves sessile, 3/4"-1" in length, amplexicaul, broadly lanceolate, acuminate. ovate or elliptic, obtuse, irregularly toothed, 3-nerved. Flowers on short peduncles, rather large, calyx 3/8" long in fruit, segments broadly lanceolate, acuminate. Corolla white, large, 2/3" long, white, tip shorter than the tube, anthers 2-celled, staminodia elongated, capsule ovoid, obtuse, inflated. In marshy places. Puriri forest at Mangawhare, etc. Also, in Tasmania, Australia, and extra-tropical South America.

"This plant is considered by Bentham to be a form of G. Peruviana, L., of which he appears to make G. sexdentata, A. Cunn., a variety. G. latifolia appears hitherto to have escaped the notice of botanists in New Zealand, and the points of difference are of sufficient interest to warrant my drawing the attention of botanists to it.

"We have two forms of G. sexdentata, A. Cunn. (1) A small erect form, with quadrangular stems and entire, obtuse, ovate, spreading leaves, flowers small; easily recognized by the pale green hue of the entire plant. (2) A larger form, usually prostrate or sub-erect, with serrate, acute, leaves somewhat appressed, and large flowers; the whole plant of a purplish tint. Our forms are glabrous, but in Tasmania and Australia the various forms are 'viscid-pubescent'."

Colenso (T.N.Z.I. 17, 1885, 245) described his G. glandulifera from plants collected "In boggy spots, edges of water-courses near Norsewood, County of Waipawa; 1884; but very local; flowering in March: W.C." The description includes: "Leaves ovate, 4-6 lines long, 2-3 lines wide, obtuse, sessile, half-clasping, thickish . . . each leaflet [of calyx] having a row of sub-succulent white hairs down the nerve on the outside; corolla 1/2 inch long, pubescent, limb white; upper lip 2-lobed, sometimes purple-margined; lower lip 3-lobed, lobes all very obtuse; tube yellowish, purple-striped, throat above thickly clothed with golden glandular hairs, and on each side a single row of similar hairs."