Flora of New Zealand Series

Puberulent or glabrate perennial herb. Main stems ± creeping, almost woody at base, often dark, with the few to many branches spreading or sometimes erect. Lf pairs distant; petioles 0.2-1-(2) cm long, very slender, dark. Lamina 3-10-(13) × 2-10-(16) mm, ovate to suborbicular or ± reniform, membranous, entire or 3-5-toothed or lobed, glabrous or glabrate with hairs mainly on veins below, dotted with small glands and often light purplish below; base rounded to subcordate, occasionally cordate. Fls single in upper lf axils; pedicels 1-3 mm long, < petioles. Bracts minute, subulate. Calyx 2.5-3 mm long, ± puberulent; scale c. 1.5 mm long at anthesis, strongly accrescent. Corolla 6-11 mm long to apex of lower lip, white, hairy; tube 4-6 mm long, straight, ampliate; lower lip > upper lip, with middle lobe very broad; upper lip deeply lobed, the lobes ± rounded. Filaments hairy, at least in lower part, the longer pair > style. Nutlets 1-1.3 mm long, strongly granular.

S.: Nelson and Marlborough, southwards to c. 41° 30'.

Endemic.

Alluvial ground in and near lowland forest, uncommon.

FL Dec-Feb.

S. novae-zealandiae is closely related to the Australian S. humilis R. Br..