Tillaea sinclairii Hook.f.
T. novae-zelandiae Petrie in T.N.Z.I. 25, 1893, 270.
Type locality: Rangitata River. Type: K, Sinclair and Haast.
Densely matted herb up to 3 cm. tall; stems and branches very delicate; internodes short, us. not > 5 mm. Lvs 1-2 mm. long, thin, linear- subulate to linear-oblong, subacute to acute, sts apiculate. Fls ± 1·5 mm. diam.; peduncles short; calyx lobes deep, ovate-oblong, obtuse. Petals white, ± twice length of sepals, oblong, obtuse. Scales 4, linear-cuneate. Carpels turgid; style oblique, very short, slightly recurved. Seeds (3)-4-(8).
DIST.: N., S. Lowland to montane damp places from lat. 38° southwards.
FL.- FT. 10-1.
T. novae-zelandiae Petrie loc. cit. was accepted by Kirk (Stud. Fl. 1899, 142) as having lvs "spreading, distant" as against "close-set or imbricate"; styles "reflexed" as against "short oblique". He adds: "very close indeed to T. sinclairii, of which it will probably prove an aquatic variety". The type specimens in W, selected by Petrie, from "Waipahi, S. Otago, in furrow in ploughed land, Nov. 1892", support Petrie's remarks, "It is not so slender or densely matted as Tillaea sinclairii Hook. f." Kirk (loc. cit.) adds his var. obtusa, "very similar to the type, but the stems are 1 in.-2 in. long, leaves more acute, and petals larger, rounded at the apex. Carpels 4-seeded. Otago: Lake Waihola, Petrie!" Cheeseman (Man. N.Z. Fl. 1906, 142) accepts and transfers the var. to T. sinclairii. The specimens in W from Lake Waihola are, as Petrie says, more robust. There are different forms due to habitat conditions in all our spp., but no experimental work appears to have been done.
