Flora of New Zealand Series

Type locality: Deep Stream. Type: BD 87407, G. Simpson.

Much-branched prostrate to sprawling shrub with stout main branches up to 1 m. or more long; ultimate branchlets ∞, up to c. 5 cm. long, densely clad in imbricate, rigid, coriac. lvs. Sheath 4-6 × 2-3 mm., ciliolate, subtruncate to rather abruptly narrowed into rigid coriac. lamina ± 20-30-(50) × 1-1·5-(2) mm.; surface ± pubescent, margins ciliolate, apex pungent. Fls solitary, terminal on branchlets; sepals unequal, longest = corolla-tube, lanceolate, acute, ciliolate; corolla-tube 7-10 × 3-4 mm., lobes white, short, ovate-triangular. Capsule depressed, broad-obovoid, ± 4 × 3 mm. Style persistent, c. 3 mm. long.

DIST.: S. Montane grassland in central and eastern Otago.

Very distinctive in form and in size of fls in the type locality; possibly worthy of specific rank.

A still ill-resolved complex. Oliver (loc. cit. 1952, 5) remarks: "Three varieties of this species can be defined. (1) The typical form is an erect shrub with the leaf tips ending in short acicular points. (2) Upright shrub with short, blunt-pointed leaves. (3)  Var. frondosum Simpson. A trailing shrub with narrow, needle-pointed leaves. In the blunt-leaved form there is a tendency to trail when growing in open, rocky situations such as the Mineral Belt, Dun Mountain." Localities given for form (2) are: Kaimanawa, Ruahine, Tararua ranges; Mineral Belt. A specimen from the Tararua Range has stiff erect lvs; sheath ± 5-6 × 2 mm., gradually tapering to lamina ± 15 × 1·5-2 mm.; apex acute to subacute.