Flora of New Zealand Series

G. pleurogynoides var. umbellata Kirk in T.N.Z.I. 27, 1895, 335.

Type: A, 7181, F. A. D. Cox.

Erect annual ± 15-30 cm. tall; stems simple or sparingly branched, rather slender; branches decumbent in lower part, then ascending, weak. Basal lvs in rosettes, diverse in size and shape on same plant; lamina ± 10-30 × 8-15 mm., on very short petiole to almost sessile, ovate- to oblong-spathulate to broad-oblong, obtuse, thin. Cauline lvs 1-2 pairs, ovate to oblong, sessile by broad almost cordate base, ± 20 × 15 mm. Fls axillary, paired or solitary, and in terminal 3-12-fld umbels, each subtended by 1 or more linear-subulate bracts, sts in whorls of 3-5. Calyx 6-7 mm. long, cut c. 3/4 way into narrow-oblong obtuse thin lobes. Corolla white, 8-9 mm. long, narrowly subcampanulate, cut ?-3/4 way into oblong or obovate-oblong lobes; veins distinct, sts pink.

DIST.: Ch. Abundant, in diverse habitats; wet peaty ground to drier areas.

Referred by Mueller (Veg. Chath. Is. 1864, 40) to G. saxosa. Kirk (loc. cit.) gives the distribution of var. umbellata as: "D'Urville Island (sepals acute), Chatham Islands (sepals obtuse)." Cheeseman (Man. N.Z. Fl. 1925, 728) notes: "I consider this to be a very distinct species, to be recognized without any difficulty by the peculiar habit, small and broad thin leaves, and small umbellate flowers with a deeply divided calyx and corolla. A specimen collected by Mr. Buchanan at the Lindis Pass, Otago, and another gathered by Professor H. B. Kirk on D'Urville Island may belong to the same species, but they are far more copiously branched and have much longer leaves."

Oliver (Rec. Dom. Mus. Wellington 1, 1944, 224) records for D'Urville Id.: "Gentiana tenuifolia Petr. Manuka scrub on serpentine, Kapowai track. Manuka scrub after forest. G. bellidifolia Hk. f. Bog, Bold Spur." He does not refer to the reputed occurrence of G. chathamica. Probably all reported mainland occurrences are referable to G. tenuifolia.