Flora of New Zealand Series

Exarrhena colensoi Kirk in T.N.Z.I. 27, 1895, 351.

M. decora Kirk ex Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 1906, 462.

Type locality: "On limestone rocks, Broken River". Type: W, 4740, J. D. Enys.

Rosette-lvs 2-3 cm. × 5-10 mm., lamina lanceolate, subacute, petiole short, broad; hairs closely appressed, ± overlapping, longer and shorter intermingled, all straight, on undersurface fewer, more even in length, or occ. almost lacking. Lateral branches decumbent, up to 6 cm. long, internodes < lvs. Stems-lvs and bracts oblong, c. 10 × 2-3 mm., upper ones sessile; hairs as on rosette-lvs. Cymes us. simple, few- to many-fld, bracteate, internodes short; pedicels short. Calyx c. 5 mm. long in fl., c. 7 mm. long in fr., lobes c. ⅓ length, broad, subacute; hairs mixed long and short, closely appressed over whole calyx. Corolla white, c. 8 mm. diam., tube cylindric, c. 5 mm. long, lobes c. 3 × 2.5 mm., broadly and bluntly rounded, overlapping at sinus, flat or slightly recurved; filaments short, anthers c. 2 mm. long, tips protruding above conspicuous scales; style c. 2 × calyx, stigma capitate. Nutlets 1·2 × 0·8 mm. (? immature), pointed.

DIST.: S. Upper Waimakariri Valley. Limestone rocks.

FL. 11-12. FT. 12-1.