Flora of New Zealand Series

Tricholoma elatinoides Benth. in DC. Prodr. 10, 1846, 502.

Stems branching, slightly stouter than in G. submersum, forming masses up to ± 15 cm. diam., branches ± ascending at tips. Lvs opp., petioled, 3-7 mm. long, narrow-spathulate to narrow-obovate, obtuse, entire, membr., gradually narrowed into petiole ± = lamina, often elongating at fruiting period. Fls c. 2.5-3·5 mm. diam.; calyx subcampanulate, obtusely (3)-4-lobed. Corolla very small, white, pilose to very nearly glab., margins ± ciliate; upper lip 2-lobed, lower (slightly larger) 3-lobed. Stamens 4, not exserted. Stigma large, spathulate, irritable. Capsule small, ovoid-globose.

DIST.: N., S., St. Common in shallow waters throughout, often entirely submerged, coastal to lowland.

FL.- FT. 10-3. Also Australia and Tasmania.

Cheeseman (T.N.Z.I. 10, 1878, 353) gives details of the process of fertilization. Specimens with cleistogamic fls have been collected by A. P. Druce (BD 97076).

Cunningham (Ann. nat. Hist. 2, 1839, 50) describes Lobelia submersa (R. Cunn.) as "repens, caespitosa, radicans, foliis (semi-uncialibus) lineari-spathulatis obtusis integerrimis subrepandisve infra medium attenuatis piligeris, pedunculo ebracteato parum longioribus, staminibus epipetalis. . . . In stagnant water, lodged in basins of the rock in the bed of the Keri-Keri river, Bay of Islands. - 1834, R. Cunningham." The specimens at K are not in good order.

Hooker (loc cit. 189) gives the original localities for G. elatinoides as "Northern Island, common in wet places, Cunningham, Colenso, etc." In the type folder at K there are two sheets, with specimens from Lake Rotoatara (1090), stream near Hawera between Wairarapa and Manawatu (303), swampy shores of Wairarapa lagoon (274); all collected by Colenso.