Var. pinnata
B. radicata var. β Hook f. Fl. N.Z. 1, 1853, 127.
B. pinnata Hook. f. Handbk N.Z. Fl. 1864, 138.
Type locality: Stewart Id. Type: K, Lyall. Pencilled on sheet is "Ruapuke". The specimens on the same sheet, "1096 Canterbury Plains, N.Z. T. Kirk comm. 9/1884", match type.
Hooker's description is: "Glabrous or minutely pubescent. Rhizome stout, ascending. Leaves all radical, 1/2-1 in. long, 1/6 in. broad, narrow linear-oblong, gradually dilated upwards, pinnatifid, the lobes uniform, orbicular, close-set, quite entire, coriaceous, concave beneath. Scape slender, ebracteate, 3 in. long. Head ⅓ in. diam.; involucral scales and florets as in B. Sinclairii. Southern Island, Lyall. I have but one specimen of this pretty little plant."
DIST.: S., St. Lowland to montane grassland from near Lake Tennyson southwards, local; most plentiful and uniform in Canterbury Plains.
The following description is based on specimens gathered by H. H. Allan, now in BD, A, and W, in a fairly uniform population near Ashburton. No forms approaching var. sinclairii were found.
Stock simple to multicipital, plant often forming small patches. Lvs in radical rosettes, on petioles c. 5-10 mm. long. Lamina linear-oblong to narrowly obovate in outline, ± 10-20 × 3-7 mm., glandular to almost glab., regularly pinnatifid to pinnatisect. Lobes subrotund, concavo-convex, entire; uppermost crowded, 1-2 mm.; remainder gradually evenly diminishing in size downwards. Scapes very slender, glab., striate, glandular-pubescent towards apex, 5-(10) cm. long. Capitula 5-7-(10) mm. diam.; receptacle convex. Phyll. glandular-pubescent, narrowly obovate-oblong, 3-4 mm. long; margins scarious, ± ciliolate to fimbriate, sts purplish. Ray-florets conspicuous, 4-5 mm. long, obovate-spathulate. Achenes much-compressed, pale, glab., obovate-cuneate in outline, up to 2 × 1 mm. Pappus-bristles stiff, unequal, minute, sts cop.
The following are sample descriptions from other ± distinct populations.
1. BD 76113, Lindis Pass, H. H. Allan, 5/12/48. Stock stout, us. multicipital. Lvs in dense rosettes, glab. or nearly so. Lamina 10-15-(25) × 5-(10) mm., broadly obovate, cuneately narrowed to narrowly winged petiole c. 10 mm. long; terminal portion obtuse, entire, with or without oblong-triangular, subpinnatifid, much smaller lobes below. Scapes slender to rather stout, ± glandular-pubescent towards apex, mostly 10-20 cm. long, 1-3 per rosette. Capitula c. 10-15 mm. diam.; receptacle convex. Phyll. ± glandular-pubescent to glab., elliptic-oblong, ± 5 mm. long, with or without narrow purple margin; tips us. with c. 3 minute triangular teeth. Ray-florets conspicuous, ∞, white, up to 10 mm. long. Achenes (seen in submature state) much-compressed, obovate, pale, glab. or sts slightly glandular, margins slightly thickened. Pappus of several minute deciduous bristles.
Populations of similar form, sts with quite stout scapes, occur in tussock-grassland near Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki, and in Central Otago. Probably Simpson's B. longiscapa comes here.
2. W, Ngapara, west from Oamaru, D. Petrie. Stock simple or sparingly branched, rather stout. Lvs radical and subbasal, thin, glab, or nearly so. Lamina narrowly obovate-oblong, 4-5 cm. × 10-15 mm.; upper portion entire or slightly sinuate, cuneately narrowed to slender petiole 4-7 cm. long; lower portion entire or sts shallowly subpinnatifidly lobed (both forms often on same plant). Scapes very slender, up to c. 20-25 cm. long, nude, glab. or nearly so, except near apex. Capitula c. 10 mm. diam., receptacle slightly convex; phyll. elliptic-oblong, glandular-pubescent, ± 3 mm. long, upper edge us. pale, scarious. Ray-florets conspicuous, ± 8 mm. long. Achenes much-compressed, glab., c. 1-1·25 mm. long (immature), slightly thickened. Pappus-bristles minute.
The population perhaps influenced by damp environment. Similar ones not noted.
3. W, Mount Pisa, north from Cromwell, Otago, c. 4000 ft., D. Petrie. Plants very glandular-pubescent in all parts. Stock simple or sparingly branched, rather stout; lvs in radical rosettes. Lamina ± 5-7 × 3-4 mm., obovate to flabellate with 3-5 crenate teeth at rounded apex or occ. subentire. Scape slender, ± 5 cm. long, pubescence very dense in upper half, nude or with 1-2 linear bracts up to c. 7 mm. long. Phyll. with purple tips or occ. whole margins purple, lanceolate, ± 5 mm. long. Capitula 15-20 mm. diam., ray-florets ± 10 mm. long. Achenes compressed, narrow-obovate, glab. or very nearly so, c. 1·5 mm. long. Pappus distinct, of several unequal bristles.
Similar populations on the Dunstan Range, The Remarkables, Macrae's Flat near Dunback.
4. K, Brachycome sinclairii var. γ Hook. f. Handbk N.Z. Fl. 1864, 138. In the type folder is one sheet with (a) "Brachycome Sinclairii var. γ Otago 1863 Hector and Buchanan"; (b) "No. 34 Otago, Hector 1863, 6-7000 ft. Brachycome Sinclairii var. γ". There are 9 rosettes of (a) with 2 in a packet, and 4 of (b). Stock stout; lvs crowded in basal rosettes 3-4 cm. diam. Lamina ± 10 mm. long, glab., spathulate, ± minutely glandular-pubescent, bluntly narrowed to apex, cuneately narrowed to petiole 5 mm. long; margins entire or very nearly so. Scapes 2-6 cm. long, glandular-pubescent. Phyll. purple-tipped, glandular-pubescent, ± oblong-triangular; ray-florets linear-oblong, up to 10 mm. long.
In W, ex Herb. Colonial Museum, labelled as collected by Buchanan, "Mount Alta, Brachycome Sinclairii var. γ" are several rosettes, together with fragments, possibly from the same gathering as the type and matching it. Similar forms occur in higher montane and subalpine grassland and herbfield in central and western Otago.
Davis (loc. cit. 1949, 101) records B. sinclairii from "*Three King Is. (W)", the asterisk indicating that the specimens were in young flower. No sp. of Brachycome has otherwise been reported from the Three Kings Is, or from the "Three Kings" volcanic cones near Auckland. Specimens of B. sinclairii have not been reported from the "Three Kings" peaks of the Tararua Range. The specimens relied on by Davis are loose in a packet and exactly match the Mount Alta plants, even to the lack of capitula, and the flakes of white mica in the debris. The labels are evidently made from the same sheet of paper. Both labels read, in the same pencilled writing, "Brachycome Sinclairii var. γ"; both have "J. Buchanan" added in ink. The locality of the specimens involved is given as "3-Kings". A little south of Mount Alta is a group called on modern maps "Triple Cone" or "Treble Cone". Buchanan frequently visited the mountains near Lake Wanaka, but did not botanize in the Three Kings Is.
POLYMORPHY
Kirk (Stud. Fl. 1899, 260) concluded: "The different forms of leaf are not correlated with variations in the flowers and fruit, and appear to depend largely on soil, situation, and moisture. Entire leaves are most frequent in rather dry situations, while those growing in moist situations, especially at great altitudes, are fleshy or coriaceous, and deeply lobed or pinnatifid." Cheeseman (Man. N.Z. Fl. 1925, 909) says: "Very variable in the size and shape of the leaves, and in their being entire, toothed, or lobulate, or even pinnatifid; but the variations are not constant, and entire and lobulate leaves can often be found on the same plant. The heads also vary greatly in size." Davis (loc. cit. 1949. 102) states: "The extremely variable nature of the leaves in this species [B. sinclairii] is reflected in the long synonymy listed above. This variation from entire to almost pinnate margins is shown to be continuous (Text-figs 9-24), and it is not uncommon for specimens to bear both entire and divided leaves in varying proportions. Five specimens were examined from Cromwell (12. 1925, A. Wall), one of which bore exclusively the almost pinnate leaves of Hooker's var. pinnata, another bore the usual pinnatifid leaves, and the remaining three specimens bore both pinnatifid and pinnate leaves. In view of this, to give separate status to each peak of variation is a fruitless attempt to discover vegetative stability where none exists, and this entire population is now grouped under one name."
Davis appears to have had no field knowledge of this huge "population". Field and garden observations, though still inadequate, suggest that it would be quite possible to arrive at a much more satisfactory segregation of spp. and vars within the complex. The probability that hybrids occur must also be taken into account.
INCERTAE SEDIS
No authentic specimens of the following spp. have been seen by me. Type specimens of the spp. of Simpson and Thomson are published as being in the BD herbarium, but have not been located there.
1. B. simplicifolia J. B. Armst. in T.N.Z.I. 13, 1881, 338. The essentials of Armstrong's description are: "A small, tufted, branching, perennial herb, 3-4 inches high, stout and leafy. Radical leaves 2-3 inches long, linear-spathulate or linear . . . with broad membranous sheathing petioles and revolute margins; quite entire, except the sheaths which are somewhat shaggy, glandular-pubescent, or glabrous. Scapes 1-3 inches high, pubescent, 1-2-flowered . . . Cauline leaves or bracts few, 1 inch long, linear-spathulate . . . Heads 1/2 an inch in diameter. Involucral scales 12-16, in one series, or with a second outer series of 2-3 scales only, linear-lanceolate or oblong, acute . . . Ray-florets short, oblong, obtuse, few or absent, white. Disc-florets tubular, 3-5 toothed. Pappus entirely absent. Achene compressed, 1/10 inch long, glandular-pubescent, thickened at the tip. Receptacle very narrow, convex, papillose. Hab.―Nelson Provincial District, Mr. C. W. Jennings. Marlborough Provincial District (1869).(J.B.A."
Kirk (Stud. Fl. 1899, 261) observes: "Possibly Lagenophora Barkeri may be the plant intended, but its scapes are invariably 1-flowered."
2. B. alpina Col. in T.N.Z.I. 31, 1899, 271. Colenso's description includes: "Plant small, slender, slightly hairy, simple (sometimes 2-branched); rhizome, 3 in. (and more) long, filiform. Leaves radical, scattered, suborbicular, 4 lines diameter, tapering, faintly crenate-lobed, lobes few, their tips pointletted-hardened from vein produced . . . hairs sprinkled, appressed . . . petioles very slender, 1 in. long . . . Scape erect, 3 in.-31/2 in. long, filiform, with 2-3 small linear distant bracts, glabrous, but pubescent towards tip. Head small, drooping, 2 lines diameter. Involucral bracts numerous, sub 20, linear . . . Florets few; ligulae white, revolute . . . Pappus 0. Achene sublanceolate, 1/10 in. long, slightly glandular, viscid. Hab. Ruahine Mountain-range, east side; Feb. 1898: Mr. H. Hill."
3. B. sinclairii var. montana Kirk Stud. Fl. 1899, 260 : "Rather stout, usually glabrate or glabrous. Leaves almost fleshy, broadly obovate-spathulate, crenate, or almost lobulate. Scapes rather stout, naked. Heads large. Rays long." No localities are given, and no specimens named by Kirk located.
4. B. humilis (humile) Simpson et Thomson in T.R.S.N.Z. 73, 1943, 167. "A very small tufted plant. Leaves radical, 1-2 cm. long, linear spathulate, 1 mm. broad at the tip, entire, or with 1-2 notches on one or both margins towards the tip, rather fleshy, gland dotted or minutely glandular-pubescent. Scapes 1 or more from the base, ± 3 cm. long, almost filiform, glabrous below, with glandular hairs at the tips; heads solitary, ± 6 mm. diam.; involucral bracts 9-10. lanceolate; margins purplish, scarious. Ray florets about 12, twice as long as the involucral bracts, oblong, obtuse, yellowish and pilose at the base. Achenes obovate, slightly compressed, with a few stiff hairs; pappus of small scales. Habitat: Snow hollows. Type specimen from the summit of Rock and Pillar Range, Otago". The authors remark: "Smaller in size than B. linearis and differing by larger flowers, longer ray florets, by the hairs on the corolla and achenes and the distinct pappus scales."
5. B. longiscapa Simpson et Thomson loc. cit. 168. "Rootstock short, stout, with many slender roots, branching closely to form small dense clumps. Leaves radical, 4-6 cm. long, 8-12 mm. broad, spathulate or linear spathulate, rather fleshy, darkish green, minutely or mealy pubescent; petiole stout, flattened above, rounded beneath, widened at the base, as long as or longer than the blade; blade obovate, rounded or blunt at the tip, narrowed to the petiole, entire or the margin very irregularly lobed or toothed or pinnatifid, the midrib sunken above, prominent beneath. Scapes strict, long, 10-20 cm., slender, pale brown or purplish, naked, glabrous at the base, closely covered towards the tip with short, stout, glandular hairs. Heads 1·5 cm. diam.; involucral bracts 4 mm. long, in 2 series, oblong, reddish, glandular hairy, with the margins scarious, rough and blackened; ray florets 8 mm. long, numerous, linear obovate, obtuse; disc florets green. Achenes obovate, compressed, with minute pappus scales. Habitat: Grassland. Type specimen from the Upper Shag Valley, near Kyeburn . . . A common grassland plant in the valleys of the Shag and Waitaki Rivers and their tributaries, Lindis Pass, L. Pukaki, etc. The irregularly margined, minutely pubescent, darkish green leaves, and the long, slender scapes are unlike those of any other of the other species."
6. B. montana Simpson in T.R.S.N.Z. 75, 1945, 197. "Rootstock short, 2-3 mm. diam., with many slender roots, branching closely to form small dense clumps. Leaves radical, 2-3 cm. long, 4-8 mm. broad, linear obovate-spathulate, rather fleshy, greyish green, surfaces and margins closely dotted with small stiff glandular hairs; petiole as long or twice as long as the blade, flat above and grooved, rounded beneath; blade differing in shape and the division of its margins, rounded or narrowed to the petiole, sometimes almost entire, more usually with 2-7 irregularly disposed, conspicuous, rounded lobes. Scapes 4-6 cm. long, rather stout, pale brown, naked or with a single linear, acute bract, glandular hairy as the leaves. Heads 1 cm. diam., involucral bracts 5 mm. long, in 3 series, linear oblong, acute, glandular hairy, with scarious tips; ray florets 5 mm. long, in 2 series, linear obovate, rounded at the tip, much recurved, disc florets numerous, yellowish. Habitat: Grassland. Type specimen from Mount Cardrona, Central Otago, collected by Mr. D. Leigh and cultivated by Mr. W. B. Brockie at the Botanic Gardens, Christchurch . . . The diversiform, greyish green, glandular hairy and somewhat fleshy leaves separate the species immediately from others of the genus."
7. B. brevifolia Simpson in T.R.S.N.Z. 79, 1952, 432. "Rootstock short, 3 mm. diam. with many slender roots, branching to form close clumps. Leaves all radical, 1-1·5 cm. long, 5 mm. broad, obovate-spathulate, greyish-green, surfaces and margins everywhere dotted with short glandular hairs; petiole equalling or shorter than the blade, flat above and grooved, rounded beneath; blade entire. Scapes 7 cm. long, rather stout, pale brown, naked, the lower portion loosely and the upper portion and the involucre closely covered with short glandular hairs. Heads 1 cm. diam.; involucral bracts 5 mm. long, linear-oblong, acute, with scarious edges. Ray florets 5 mm. long, linear, subacute, much recurved; disk florets numerous, yellowish. Habitat: Grassland. Type from Rough Peaks, Lake Wakatipu, at 800 m. altitude."
8. B. cuneata Simpson in T.R.S.N.Z. 79, 1952, 432. "Rootstock short, 2 mm. diam., with many fine roots, branching to form small patches. Leaves radical, ± 1 cm. long, 3 mm. broad, cuneate-spathulate, light green, surfaces and margins everywhere dotted with short glandular hairs; petiole broad and flat; blade rounded at the tip, with 3-5 lobes, elsewhere entire and narrowed to the base. Scapes 2-3 cm. long, naked and with the involucre, thinly dotted with short glandular hairs. Heads 8 mm. diam.; involucral bracts 5 mm. long, linear-cuneate, obtuse. Florets not seen. Habitat: Fellfield. Type, collected by James Langbein at 1,300 m. altitude on Mt. Pisa, near Cromwell, Central Otago . . . only a few small pieces were collected and florets and achenes were absent."
