Flora of New Zealand Series

Calceolaria sinclairii Hook. Ic. Pl. 1843, t. 561.

Type locality: near East Cape. Type: K, Sinclair.

Herb or subshrub softly woody in lower parts, ± glandular-pubescent, up to 3 dm. tall. Stems laxly branched, slender, sprawling to scandent, up to ± 5 dm. long; branches very slender, finely striate. Lvs opp.; lamina thin to very thin, (2)-5-(8) × 2-3-(5) cm., of ovate order (varying on the same plant from narrow- to broad-ovate to ovate-oblong to ovate-elliptic, some plants more regular as to main shape), apiculate, coarsely 2-3 crenate-serrate, occ. lobed, abruptly narrowed into slender petiole ± 1-8 cm. long, often bearing minute lflts in axils. Infl. a slender, terminal, us. several-fld panicle, ± trichotomously branched, up to c. 15 cm. long. Pedicels often capillary, up to c. 2 cm. long. Calyx subcampanulate, c. 2 mm. long, deeply cut into ovate to deltoid lobes. Corolla white to yellow-flushed, spotted purple, puberulous, divided c. 1/3 to 1/2 way into 2 nearly equal concave lips c. 5-10 mm. long. Anthers suborbicular, filaments short. Capsule obovoid, c. 4 mm. long.

DIST.: N. Coastal to lower montane streamsides in shade, especially marginal to forest, from near Hicks Bay southwards, rather local.

FL.- FT. 10-2.

Hooker (Fl. N.Z. 1, 1854, 187) remarks: "This species is so very nearly allied to C. punctata, of South Chili, that it is only to be distinguished by the usually broader leaves, fewer flowers, and smaller calyx, characters used by Mr. Bentham to distinguish Dr. Sinclair's, the original specimens, but which are hardly borne out by others received from Mr. Colenso."

Cheeseman (Man. N.Z. Fl. 1925, 770) remarks: "Kranzlin . . . admits Colenso's Calceolaria albula and C. Sturmii as distinct species, a view with which I cannot coincide. I cannot even separate them as varieties."

Colenso (T.N.Z.I. 27, 1895, 391) separates his Calceolaria (Jovellana) albula from C. sinclairii as differing "mainly in the smaller size and entire lips of corolla, which is white without, with minute pale-purple spots within below, and the hairs at the base of corolla within long and wavy, the stigma rough, and the ovary more obtuse, shining, and tuberculate." The specimens came from "Margins of woody, hilly country between Napier and Taupo Lake; 1893-94: Mr. W. F. C. Sturm." In the type folder at K is one sheet with vegetative piece and parts of infls. Lamina broadly ovate-oblong, apiculate, c. 4·5-4·7 × 3 cm., coarsely irregularly 2-3 crenate-serrate.

Calceolaria (Jovellana) sturmii Col. loc. cit. 392. Of this Colenso remarks: "This species, like the preceding [C. albula], is near to C. sinclairii, but differs more largely in general appearance and in size; its peculiar membranous leaves patent on long narrow (almost filiform) petioles, and very small flowers, with much less pubescence and thin margins, and anthers cordate, and glabrous throat of corolla, which is also dark-purple spotted within, the spots larger and showing through the thin corolla." The specimens came from "the west side of the Kaweka mountain-range, near Napier; 1893-94: Mr. W. F. C. Sturm." Colenso gives the flower-size as 1/10 in. diam. In the type folder at K is one sheet with 2 flowering pieces; lamina 4-5 × 2·2-3·3 cm., broadly ovate-oblong to broadly elliptic, obtuse, coarsely and irregularly crenate. Fls minute.

Plants are easily grown and are pleasing herbaceous subjects. The N.Z. forms deserve more detailed study.