Flora of New Zealand Series

Plant forming an almost felted mass up to 2 cm. tall. Rosettes crowded, each with c. 5 lvs or more. Lvs linear-lanceolate, 10-20 × 0·8-1 mm. Fl.-stalk ± 4-12 mm. long. Calyx unequally 5-toothed, c. 2 mm. long, subcampanulate; corolla-lobes up to 2 mm. long, oblong-obovate, obtuse, 3-nerved, with scattered cylindric papillae on upper surface; tube rather > lobes. Stamens 4 or 5 with filaments unequal. Style > ovary, stigma slightly 2-lipped. Capsule ovoid-globose, up to c. 2 mm. long.

DIST.: The var. is based on specimens collected by H. Carse Jan. 1901 in wet sand above high water mark, North Auckland, and appears to be local.

The sp. is somewhat polymorphic and appears separable into geographical races.

Colenso (T.N.Z.I. 21, 1889, 96) based his L. ciliata on plants collected "On mud-flats, margins of streams, Hawke's Bay, forming large patches; 1846-52: W.C. 1888: Mr. A. Hamilton." Colenso observes: "A species pretty near to L. aquatica, Linn. (and its varieties), but differing in several particulars: as, in its smaller size; its linear filiform semi-terete leaves, which are truly connate in young plants; its larger flowers, the corolla being twice as large as the calyx, with obtuse hairy and ciliate lobes, long style, and large globular stigma". The corolla is given as "11/2 lines diameter."