Flora of New Zealand Series

Calendula pumila Forst. f. Prodr. 1786, 57.

Microcalia australis A. Rich. Essai Fl. N.Z. 1832, 231.

L. forsteri DC. Prodr. 5, 1836, 367.

Type locality: ? Type: in the type folder at K are 6 rosettes from the Forster herbarium, capitula empty or absent, lvs ± glab.

Rhizomes slender, branching; plant forming open, sts extensive patches, basal lvs rosulate at nodes on simple to branched stocks. Lamina ± 10-15 × 7-10 mm., occ. c. 20 × 15 mm.; suborbicular to broadly elliptic or oblong or obovate, thinly coriac., ± clad in stiff scaberulous hairs; margins crenate-dentate to very shallowly lobed or subentire; teeth mucronulate, us. ∞; base truncate to rounded. Petioles ± 10-15 mm., exceptionally up to 30 mm. long, slender. Cauline lvs similar, us. few to 0 except in vars. Scapes 8-16 cm. long, slender; bracts linear, few, c. 3 mm. long, or 0. Capitula 10-12-(15) mm. diam.; phyll. linear, acute, c. 2 mm. long, ciliolate near tips, margins ± hyaline. Ray-florets ∞, c. 8 mm. long, oblong, conspicuous. Achenes c. 1·75 × 0·5 mm., obliquely obovate; margins slightly thickened. Beak c. 0·5 mm. long, erect.

DIST.: K., Three Kings, N., S., St., Ch., A., C., Ant. Lowland to montane grassland, open places and light forest.

FL. 9-2. FT. 11-4. Papataniwhaniwha (the name applied to other spp. also).

A polymorphic group closely allied to L. petiolata, of which Cheeseman (Man, N.Z. Fl. 1925, 905) says: "Very closely allied to L. pumila, but separated by the more slender habit, smaller and thinner leaves, smaller heads with shorter and narrower rays, and longer and narrower curved achenes."