Flora of New Zealand Series

alkanet

Herb, hispid throughout. Stems to c. 75 cm tall. Basal lvs with lamina to c. 30 × 15 cm, ovate or ovate-oblong, densely appressed hispid below, appressed hispid above with longer hairs bulbous-based; base attenuate; apex acute or mucronate. Cauline lvs smaller. Cymes dense, with up to 15 fls, each cyme with large lanceolate to ovate bracts. Calyx 2.55 mm long, longer at fruiting; lobes linear or linear-lanceolate. Corolla tube 3-4 mm long, densely hispid; limb 8-12 mm diam.; lobes patent, blue, rounded, with white eye composed of the protuberant scales. Style c. 2 mm long. Nutlets 1.5-2 mm long, ovoid, asymmetric, rugose, blackish.

N.; S.: occasional from Taneatua (Bay of Plenty) southwards; St.: Halfmoon Bay.

S.W. Europe 1958

Roadsides, waste places, an escape from cultivation, uncommon.

FL Nov-Feb.

The sp. is illustrated in Fig. 43. Alkanet has often been known as Anchusa semperuirens L., but is distinguishable from any wild or cultivated Anchusa spp. in N.Z. by the shape and size of lvs and bracts.

Fig. 43. A-B Pentaglottis sempervirens, A fl. in front view, B lateral view; C Symphytum × uplandicum, fl. in lateral view. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X52]