Flora of New Zealand Series

G. bellidifolia var. patula Kirk in T.N.Z.I. 27, 1895, 336.

Perennial, root stout or slender, stock often multicipital, giving rise to 1 or several simple or branched stems, decumbent at base then erect, (10)-20-30-(50) cm. tall, rather stout, striate. Basal Ivs us. ∞, densely rosulate, (1·5)-2.5-7·5 × 1-2 cm., oblong- to ovate- to lanceolate-spathulate, coriac. to submembr., acute or obtuse; petioles up to c. 5 mm. long. Cauline Ivs 1-5 pairs, sessile, oblong to narrow-oblong; lower ± 15 × 10 mm., ovate-oblong, obtuse. Infl. of few- to c. 10-fld umbelliform or corymbose cymes. Calyx c. 10 mm. long, divided 1/2-3/4 way into linear-oblong to narrow-ovate subacute to obtuse lobes. Corolla white, 20-25 mm. diam., deeply cut into oblong to broad-oblong to obovate rounded lobes with purplish central vein.

DIST.: N., S. Montane to subalpine grassland from Tararua Range southwards.

A very complex assemblage of forms is found in herbaria under this name, from which it is difficult to select a type. Kirk (loc. cit.) gives "G. saxosa ß, Hook. f., in Handbook N.Z. Fl., 191" and gives the range "Nelson to Otago, Common in the mountains; 1,500 ft.-3,500 ft." Hooker (loc. cit.) says, "Stems stout, branched, erect, leafy, many-flowered. Calyx divided ⅔ way down, lobes linear-oblong" and adds "Sinclair Range and elsewhere: Southern Alps, ascending to 6,000 ft., Sinclair and Haast."

G. spedenii Petrie in T.N.Z.I. 56, 1926, 14 was described from a single plant (W 4720) collected on the Princess Range by James Speden, 26.2.24. This specimen, with subrosulate ovate-spathulate radical Ivs c. 1 cm. long, unbranched stem c. 15 cm. tall and terminal bracted cluster of 4 fls, should be considered in relation to the G. patula complex.