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Volume I (1961) - Flora of New Zealand Indigenous Tracheophyta - Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledons
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Wahlenbergia Schrad. ex Roth

WAHLENBERGIA Schrad., 1814

Fls us. solitary; calyx (3)-5-(7)-lobed; corolla us. campanulate, regular, lobes as for calyx, valvate. Stamens free from corolla; filaments ± dilated at base. Ovary 2-5-loculed, ovules ∞, style cylindric, stigma 2-5-fid. Capsule apically loculicidally dehiscent. Perennial to annual herbs, of wide distribution, especially in southern hemisphere, with some 120 spp.

Key

1
Lvs all uniformly linear
2
Lvs spathulate to lanceolate
3
2
Plant taprooted, tall and branching; fls 2-3 cm. diam
1. matthewsii
Plant with well-developed rhizomes; fls c. 1·5 cm. diam.
8. brockiei
3
Plant taprooted; lvs scattered on branched stems
4
Plant with rhizomes; lvs us. rosulate, sts scattered on elongate stems
6
4
Calyx, stem, lvs clad in short bristly hairs; fls 2-3 cm. diam., deep blue with deeply campanulate corolla-tube
4. trichogyna
Calyx and upper stem glab.; fls smaller or not blue, with very short corolla-tube
5
5
Fls > 10 mm. diam., plant up to 45 cm. tall
2. gracilis
Fls 5-8 mm. diam., plant 3-15 cm. tall
3. colensoi
6
Lvs scattered on long decumbent-ascending stems
7
Lvs rosulate at tips of short erect stems
8
7
Fls creamy white; lvs both alt. and in short lateral rosulate tufts, crenate-serrate
10. simpsonii
Fls bluish white or blue; lvs not in lateral tufts, subentire
6. albomarginata
8
Lvs 8-15 mm. broad, ovate-spathulate, very thick and coriac. with prominent cartilaginous margins
5. cartilaginea
Lvs much narrower and thinner
9
9
Calyx-lobes = corolla-tube, capsule globose
9. congesta
Calyx-lobes much < corolla-tube, capsule obconic
10
10
Lvs subentire, ± glaucous and coriac.; margins often white and cartilaginous; corolla-tube slender
6. albomarginata
Lvs crenate-serrate, glossy-green, fleshy; margins rarely cartilaginous; corolla-tube broad
7. pygmaea

Miss J. A. Hay (now Mrs. Petterson) has made a detailed study of the genus in N.Z., and has deposited a thesis at Victoria University College. Her investigation has been extremely useful in the preparation of this account and several of her conclusions have been adopted.

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