Flora of New Zealand Series

N. montana Col. in T.N.Z.I. 28, 1896, 595.

type: uncertain; I have not seen specimens certainly examined by Gaertner. In the type folder at K are specimens from South and Stewart Is collected by Lyall, and from "Lord Auckland's group, J. D. H."

Forming small to large patches up to c.3m. diam., glab. or rarely with odd hairs, faintly to strongly foetid when brusied. Stems obscurely tetragonous, slender to rather stout, up to c. 3 dm. or in some forms 1 m. long, us. much-branched. Lvs on petioles (1)-2-3-(4) mm. long, sts up to 10 mm. when shaded; stipules small, us. rather thick, broad- to narrow-triangular. Lamina ovate to broad-ovate to occ. suboribicular or deltoid-ovate, submembr. to thick; (3)-5-8-(15) × 2-3-5-(10) mm., acute to obtuse, us. minutely apiculate, abruptly narrowed to rounded or truncate or subcordate base; margins thickened, recurved, sts slightly waved. Fls axillary and terminal, sessile, very small. Calyx truncate; corolla subcampanulate, (1)-2-3 mm. long, tube very short, lobes 4, ± ⅓ length tube. Styles slightly exserted. Drupes glab., succulent, globose, bright to dark red, c. 4 mm. diam.

DIST.: N., S., St., A., C. Coastal to subalpine damp forest, shrubland, grassland, boggy ground, herbfield throughout.

FL. 11-2. FT. 12-5. Type locality and

A complex and plastic group; forms said to be conspecific occur in Australia, Tasmania and South America, but a monographic treatment is desirable. The record from Tristan d'Acunha may belong to N. holmboei Christoph. A var. papuana Vall. has been described from New Guinea.

In the absence of a clear understanding of the type I refrain from giving names to any N.Z. forms. Two groups may be referred to: A―common in North Id and northern South Id. Plant rather delicate, forming rather small patches. Stems c. 1 mm. diam., seldom > 2 dm. long, closely branched. Lvs ovate to deltoid-ovate, submembr., us. apiculate; lamina 2-3-5 × (1)-2-4 mm.; petioles flattened, up to ± 2 mm. long. Drupes bright red, c. 4 mm. diam., us. ∞, often crowded. B―common in Fiordland and at Bluff. Plant much stouter, forming large rather dense to rather open patches. Stems up to ± 3 mm. diam., up to ± 1 m. long, closely to openly branched. Lvs broad-ovate to broadly ovate-oblong, rather fleshy, not apiculate or rarely so; lamina (4)- 5-7 × (3)-4-5 mm.; petioles flattened, up to ± 3 mm. long. Drupes bright red, c. 3-4 mm. diam., us. more distant. Odour more pronounced. There are other forms awaiting detailed study.