# Manual of the New Zealand Flora/Boraginaceæ

Additions and Corrections
Order LI. BORAGINACEÆ.
Annual or perennial herbs or more rarely trees or shrubs, usually rough with coarse hairs. Leaves alternate, seldom opposite, simple, entire or toothed; stipules wanting. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite, usually arranged in one-sided simple or forked gyrate spikes or racemes (in reality scorpioid cymes), rarely solitary. Calyx inferior, 5-lobed or -partite, persistent. Corolla gamopetalous, hypogynous; throat often closed with hairs or scales; lobes usually 5, seldom 4, imbricate. Stamens the same number as the lobes of the corolla and alternate with them, inserted on the tube or throat of the corolla; anthers 2-celled, opening lengthwise. Ovary superior, deeply 4-lobed and 4-celled in the majority of the species and in all those found in New Zealand, sometimes entire or 2-lobed; style from between the ovary-lobes or terminal; stigma capitate or 2-lobed; ovules solitary in each cell, ascending. Fruit usually composed of 4 indehiscent nutlets or pyrenes, rarely drupaceous. Seed erect or oblique, testa membranous; albumen copious or scanty or wanting; embryo straight or curved, radicle superior.
A large and widely distributed order, found in all parts of the world, the herbaceous genera most abundant in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in south Europe and the Levant; the shrubby and arborescent ones mainly tropical. Genera about 70; species estimated at 1200. The properties of the order are unimportant. Some of the species are mucilaginous and emollient, and have been used in medicine. The roots of others, such as Anchusa (alkanet), yield a red dye. The heliotrope, forget-me-not, and many others are cultivated for ornament. Of the three indigenous genera, Myosotis has a wide range in temperate climates; the remaining two are endemic.
| * Calyx and corolla 5-lobed. |
| Leaves alternate. Racemes bractless. Nuts small, smooth and polished, on a flat receptacle | 1. Myosotis. |
| Leaves chiefly radical, large and broad. Nuts large, with broad wings, attached to a central conical receptacle | 2. Myosotidium. |
| ** Calyx and corolla 4-lobed. |
| Small intricately branched herb. Leaves opposite | 3. Tetrachondra. |
1. MYOSOTIS, Linn.
Annual or perennial herbs, usually move or less hispid. Leaves alternate, entire, radical petioled, cauline sessile. Flowers small, blue or white or yellow, in scorpioid simple or branched racemes, destitute of bracts, or in the axils of the upper leaves, rarely solitary and terminal. Calyx 5-lobed or -partite; lobes narrow, hardly altered in fruit. Corolla with a cylindrical tube partly closed with 5 small scales in the throat; limb spreading, 5-lobed; lobes contorted in the bud. Stamens 5, affixed to the corolla-tube, included or exserted; anthers ovate or oblong. Ovary deeply 4-lobed; style filiform. Nutlets 4, ovoid-oblong, smooth and shining, attached by a small basal area.
A well-known genus of nearly 50 species, plentiful in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and in New Zealand, rare elsewhere. One of the New Zealand species extends to Australia, the rest are endemic.
I have followed the "Genera Plantarum" and Engler and Prantl's Pflanzenfamilien in reducing Exarrhena to a section of Myosotis. Its distinguishing characters lie in the usually large campanulate corolla, the stamens inserted high up the corolla-tube between the scales, so that the anthers are altogether above the level of the scales and exserted beyond the tube, and in the filaments being usually (but not invariably) longer than the anthers. But M. albo-sericea and M. Goyeni have the corolla of Exarrhena with the stamens of Myosotis, and a variety of M. capitata has the anthers exserted beyond the tube; while the position of the stamens on the corolla-tube varies in both Myosotis and Exarrhena.
The student must bear in mind that several species greatly resemble one another in habit and foliage, although widely different in the flowers. This is specially the case with M. Forsteri, a true Myosotis, and M. petiolata, an undoubted Exarrhena. M. capitata, M. explanata, M. concinna, and M. macrantha are all very near to one another in size, habit, and foliage, and all have unlike flowers.
Section I. (Eumyosotis). Stamens inserted on the corolla-tube; filarnents shorter than the anthers, which are included in the tube, their tips not exceeding the corolla-scales.
| * Flowers solitary, sessile, terminal. Leaves small, imbricate. |
| Small, densely tufted, 2–6 in. diam. Leaves ¼ in., linear-oblong | 1. M. uniflora. |
| Small, densely tufted, 2–4 in. diam. Leaves ⅙–¼ in., obovate-spathulate | 2. M. pulvinaris. |
| ** Flowers solitary and axillary. |
| Small, densely tufted, 1–3 in. diam. Leaves crowded. Flowers few, large, ⅓ in. long, corolla-tube twice as long as the calyx | 3. M. Cheesemanii. |
| Prostrate or decumbent, leafy, 1–6 in. long. Leaves often distichous. Flowers minute, 1/10–1/8 in. long | 4. M. antarctica. |
| Prostrate or decumbent, leafy, 1–2 in. long. Flowers rather large, ¼–⅓ in. long. Anthers very long, narrow-linear | 5. M. decora. ​ |
| *** Flowers in terminal racemes without bracts, or the lower flowers alone axillary. |
| Slender, erect, densely hispid, 6–16 in. high. Racemes elongated; pedicels short, erect. Nutlets ovoid, black | 6. M. australis. |
| Slender, weak, diffuse, 6–18 in. long. Racemes elongated, the lower flowers axillary; pedicels slender, spreading. Nutlets broadly ovoid, pale | 7. M. Forsteri. |
| Stout, erect, 6–14 in. high. Leaves coriaceous. Racemes short, stout, capitate. Flowers blue or white, ⅕–¼ in. diam. Calyx small, ⅕ in. long | 8. M. capitata. |
| Stout, erect, 6–12 in. high. Leaves submembranous, sparsely hispid. Racemes short, stout, capitate. Flowers ⅔ in. diam., large, white. Calyx ⅓ in. long | 9. M. explanata. |
| Short, stout, densely hispid, 2–6 in. high. Leaves linear-spathulate. Racemes short, capitate. Flowers ¼–⅓ in. long, lemon-yellow. Filaments very short, the tip of the anthers just above the scales | 10. M. Traversii. |
| Size and habit of M. Traversii, but leaves rather narrower. Racemes capitate. Flowers ⅓ in., white. Filaments as long as the anthers, which are wholly above the scales | 11. M. angustata. |
| Slender, 3–6 in. high, silvery-white with appressed silky hairs. Racemes long, slender. Flowers bright-yellow, ⅓ in. long. Corolla campanulate, with a short tube and broad limb | 12. M. albo-sericea. |
| Slender, 4–10 in. high, hispid with short white hairs. Racemes long, slender. Flowers pale-yellow or white, large, ½–¾ in. long. Corolla campanulate, tube shorter than the limb | 13. M. Goyeni. |
Section II. (Exarrhena). Stamens usually inserted between the corolla-scales; filaments longer than the anthers, which always reach beyond the corolla-tube, and sometimes exceed the lobes.
| Flaccid, prostrate or decumbent. Leaves on slender petioles; blade orbicular or obovate, ⅓–1 in. long. Flowers small, solitary and axillary, ⅛ in. long. Corolla-tube shorter than the limb | 14. M. spathulata. |
| Slender, diffuse, 4–14 in. high. Leaves on slender petioles; blade rounded-oblong, ⅔–2 in. Racemes long, slender. Flowers ¼–⅓ in. diam. Corolla-tube much shorter than the limb | 15. M. petiolata. |
| Slender, 6–12 in. high. Leaves membranous, sparsely hispid. Racemes long, simple. Flowers ⅓–½ in. long. Corolla campanulate; tube broad, shorter than the limb | 16. M. laeta. |
| Rather stout, 3–9 in. high. Leaves l–2½ in., linear-obovate or obovate-spathulate, coriaceous, hispid on both surfaces. Racemes many-flowered. Flowers large, white, ½ in. diam. | 17. M. amabilis. |
| Small, stout, 2–3 in. high. Leaves ½–¾ in., oblong-spathulate, hispid and hoary on both surfaces. Racemes few-flowered. Flowers small | 18. M. saxosa. |
| Small, rather slender, 2–6 in. high. Leaves ¾–2 in., lanceolate- to obovate-spathulate, hispid on both surfaces or almost glabrous beneath. Racemes many-flowered. Flowers yellow, ¼–⅓ in. long | 19. M. Monroi. |
| Stout, 2–6 in. high. Leaves 1–1½ in., oblong-spathulate, sparingly hispid. Flowers ¼ in. long. Corolla funnel-shaped, tube longer than the limb | 20. M. Lyallii. ​ |
| Erect, silky with appressed hairs, 6–14 in. high. Leaves 2–4 in., lanceolate-spathulate. Flowers numerous, crowded, bright-yellow, ½–⅔ in. long. Corolla broadly funnel-shaped, tube broad, shorter than the limb | 21. M. concinna. |
| Hispid with spreading or appressed hairs, 6–14 in. high. Leaves 2–6 in, lanceolate-spathulate. Flowers large, crowded, brownish-orange, ⅔–1 in. long. Corolla-tube twice as long as the limb | 22. M. macrantha. |
1. M. uniflora, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 192.—A small much and closely branched densely tufted perennial herb, forming rounded patches 2–6 in. diam., everywhere clothed with appressed rigid white hairs, giving the whole plant a greyish-white appearance; root woody, tortuous; branches densely leafy. Leaves closely imbricated, erect, ¼ in. long, linear-oblong or linear-lanceolate, obtuse or subacute, dilated at the base, almost glabrous above. Flowers solitary, terminal, almost sessile, about ¼ in. long, yellowish-white. Calyx-lobes linear-oblong, acute, clothed with straight rigid hairs. Corolla-tube cylindrical, twice as long as the calyx, throat with 5 emarginate scales; limb flat, spreading; lobes 5, short, rounded. Stamens 5; filaments very short; anthers linearoblong, included, their tips just above the level of the corolla-scales. Nuts ovoid, acute.
South Island: Canterbury—Sources of the Waimakariri, Enys! T. F. C; Rangitata Valley, Armstrong! W. W. Smith! Wilberforce River, Haast! Tasman Valley, T. F. C.; Hopkins River, Haast. 2500–4000 ft. December–February.
A very curious little plant. The M. uniflora of Buchanan (Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. t. 33, f. 1) appears to me to be referable to the next species.
2. M. pulvinaris, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 193.—A small much-branched densely tufted perennial herb, forming soft rounded cushions 2–4 in. diam., more or less clothed with soft white hairs; branches short, densely compacted. Leaves most densely imbricated all round the branches, erect, closely overlapping, ⅙–¼ in. long, broadly obovate or obovate-spathulate, rounded at the tip, slightly narrowed to a broad sessile base, rather membranous, both surfaces clothed with long soft hairs or the lower half glabrous. Flowers white, solitary, terminal, almost sessile, about ¼ in. long. Calyx-lobes linear, acute, densely clothed with long straight hairs. Corolla-tube about twice as long as the calyx, throat with 5 scales; lobes 5, short, rounded, spreading. Stamens included, the tips of the anthers slightly above the level of the corolla-scales. Nuts ovoid, acute.—Buch, in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. (1882) t. xxxiii. f. 2. M. Hectori. Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 193; Buch. l.c. t. xxxiii. f. 3.
South Island: Canterbury—Locality not stated, J. F. Armstrong! Otago—Mount Alta, Hector and Buchanan! Mount Pisa, Old Man Range, Hector Mountains, Mount Cardrona, and other high peaks to the west and north-west, Petrie! 4500–6500 ft. January–March. ​Very variable in the shape and texture of the leaves and the extent to which they are covered with hairs. M. Hectori only differs in the rather broader and shorter leaves, and passes so insensibly into the type that it cannot be retained even as a variety.
3. M. Cheesemanii, Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst xviii. (1886) 296.—A small perennial herb forming tufts 1–3 in. diam., more or less clothed in all its parts with long soft white hairs. Stems several from the root, 1–1½ in. long, spreading or ascending, densely leafy. Lower leaves ¼–½ in. long, obovate-spathulate, usually rounded at the tip, narrowed into a broad membranous almost glabrous 3-nerved base, upper portion coriaceous, hispid on both surfaces, margins ciliate with long hairs; cauline leaves smaller and narrower, more acute. Flowers 1–4 towards the tips of the branches, solitary, axillary, ⅓ in. long, white, sweet-scented. Calyx clothed with long straight hairs, 5-lobed to the middle; lobes lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, erect, acute. Corolla-tube funnel-shaped, almost twice as long as the calyx, throat with 5 lunate glands; lobes spreading, short, broad, rounded. Stamens included; filaments very short; the tips of the anthers equalling or slightly overtopping the corolla-scales. Nutlets narrow-ovoid, dark-brown, polished, acute.
South Island: Otago—Mount Pisa and the Hector Mountains, on shingle slopes, Petrie! 4500–6000 ft.
A very pretty and distinct little species. In some respects it is allied to M. Traversii, but it is much smaller and more densely tufted, and the flowers are axillary, not racemose.
4. M. antarctica, Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 57, t. 38.—Annual or perennial, more or less clothed in all its parts with spreading or appressed stiff white hairs. Stems numerous from the root, prostrate or decumbent, ascending at the tips, 1–6 in. long, usually densely leafy. Radical leaves ¼–1 in. long, narrow obovate-spathulate or oblong-spathulate, obtuse or apiculate, sessile or narrowed into a petiole of variable length, membranous or rather coriaceous; cauline smaller, sessile, often distichous. Flowers solitary and axillary, sessile or nearly so, minute, 1/10–1/8 in. long, white or yellow or blue. Calyx cut nearly half-way down, hispid with long straight hairs; lobes linear-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acute. Corolla-tube cylindric, variable in length, in some forms barely exceeding the calyx, in others almost twice as long, throat with 5 scales; lobes very short, rounded. Stamens included; anther-tips usually reaching to the level of the corolla-scales. Fruiting calyx enlargeii, open. Nutlets ovoid, acute, compressed, shining, black or nearly so.—Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 201; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 193. M. pygmæa, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi. (1884) 334. M. Traillii, Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi. (1884) 373.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Campbell Island: Not uncommon from the Auckland Isthmus southwards, usually in dry rocky places. Sea-level to 4500 ft. November–February.
An extremely variable little plant. Specimens from dry alpine localities are often densely tufted, almost pulvinate, and are usually clothed with long villous hairs. On the other hand, I have specimens from shaded places near the Waimakariri Glacier with slender prostrate sparingly leafy stems 6 in. long, with radical leaves 2 in. long. Mr. Kirk's subspecies Traillii does not seem to me to differ in any essential particular.
5. M. decora, T. Kirk, MSS.—Perennial; hoary in all its parts with appressed rigid white hairs. Stems 1–2 in. long, prostrate or decumbent, suberect at the tips, leafy throughout. Radical leaves numerous, spreading, ½–l¼ in. long, linear-oblong or linear-spathuiate, acute, narrowed into a short broad petiole, coriaceous, both surfaces clothed with appressed stiff hairs; cauline much smaller, the upper ones sessile. Flowers solitary in the axils of the upper leaves, white, ¼–⅓ in. long, pedicels short. Calyx densely hispid with stiff white hairs, 4-lobed to the middle; lobes linear, acute. Corolla-tube longer than the calyx, throat with 5 scales; limb broad, with 5 rounded lobes. Stamens with very short filaments; anthers very long, linear, their tips projecting considerably above the level of the corolla-scales. Style long, slender. Nutlets oblong, smooth and polished, black.—Exarrhena Colensoi, Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvii. (1895) 351 (in part).
South Island: Canterbury—Limestone rocks in the Broken River basin, Enys! Kirk! Cockayne! T. F. C. 2000–3500 ft. December–January.
A curious little plant, remarkable for the large linear anthers, the tips of which stand up considerably above the corolla-scales.
6. M. australis, R. Br. Prodr. 495.—An erect densely hispid perennial herb 6–16 in. high; stems usually branched from the base, slender or rather stout, sparingly leafy. Radical leaves ¾–2 in. long, oblong-spathulate or linear-spathulate, obtuse, narrowed into long petioles, rather coriaceous, hispid on both surfaces; cauline distant, smaller and shorter, sessile, linear-oblong or linear-spathulate. Racemes elongated, many-flowered, hispid with spreading straight or hooked hairs. Flowers yellow or white, ⅕–¼ in. long; pedicels very short. Calyx densely hispid with spreading hooked hairs, divided ¾-way down or more; lobes linear-lanceolate, acute. Corolla-tube funnel-shaped, exceeding the calyx; throat with 5 scales; lobes shore, rounded. Stamens included; anther-tips about level with the corolla-scales. Style shorter than the calyx or very slightly exceeding it. Nutlets narrow-ovoid, polished and shining, black when fully ripe.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 201; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 193; Benth. Fl. Austral. iv. 405.
Var. conspicua.—Flowers larger, ⅓–½ in. long, ¼ in. diam., campanulate. Style considerably longer than the calyx.
​North Island: Hawke's Bay—Kaweka Mountain, H. Tryon. South Island: Abundant throughout. Sea-level to 4000 ft. December–February.
Closely allied to M. Forsteri, but easily distinguished by the more erect habit, more hispid stems and leaves and calyces, shorter and more erect pedicels, usually yellow flowers, and narrower black nutlets. It is a common Australian plant.
7. M. Forsteri, Lehm. Asperif. 95.—Usually perennial. Stems branched from t>he root, decumbent or almost prostrate below, ascending or suberect above, slender, flaccid, leafy, 6–18 in. long, more or less hispid or pilose with soft white hairs. Lower leaves on long slender petioles ½–2 in. long; blade ½–1½ in., oblong or orbicular-oblong, obtuse or apiculate, rather membranous, both surfaces hispidulous. Racemes elongated, very many-flowered; the lower flowers often axillary; fruiting pedicels equalling the calyx or longer than it, spreading. Flowers about ¼ in. long, white or white with a yellow eye. Calyx campanulate, hispid with spreading hooked hairs, 5-lobed to the middle; lobes linear-oblong, acute. Corolla-tube funnel-shaped, slightly exceeding the calyx, throat with 5 scales; lobes short, rounded. Anthers included, their tips equalling the corolla-scales. Nutlets broadly ovoid or almost orbicular, pale-brown, sinning.—D.C. Prodr. x. 110; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 393; Raoul, Choix, 43; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 200; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 194. M. spathulata, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 198 (non Forst.). M. Hamiltoni, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xx. (1888) 201. M. polyantha and M. tenuifolia, Col. l.c. xxxi. (1899) 275, 276. (?) M. venosa, Col. l.c. xxviii. (1896) 606.
North and South Islands: Not uncommon from the Bay of Islands to the south-west of Otago. Sea-level to 3500 ft. October–February.
8. M. capitata, Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 56, t. 37.—Perennial; clothed in all its parts with soft spreading scarcely hispid hairs; rootstock long; stems one or several from the root, stout, ascending, simple, leafy. Eadical leaves numerous, spreading, 1½–4 in. long, linear-obovate or linear-oblong or spathulate, obtuse, narrowed into a short broad petiole, clothed with soft spreading or appressed hairs above, much less hairy beneath; cauline smaller, the upper ones sessile. Racemes short, stout, simple or branched, usually forming a dense many-flowered head. Flowers ¼ in. long, ⅕–¼ in. diam., shortly pediceiled, blue. Calyx hispid with appressed straight hairs, 5-lobed ¾-way down; lobes linear, obtuse. Corolla-tube ⅓ longer than the calyx, cylindrical, throat with 5 scales; limb flat, spreading, with 5 rounded lobes. Stamens included; filaments very short; anther-tips just above the level of the scales. Style long, slender. Nutlets ovoid, smooth and shining, black.—Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 200; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 194.
Var. albiflora, Armstr. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiii. (1881) 340.—Stouter and coarser than the type, 6–18 in. high, more copiously hairy. Radical leaves 3–6 in. long, on rather longer petioles, thicker, often somewhat fleshy; cauline narrower. Flowers white. Stamens on filaments almost as long as the anthers; anthers altogether above the level of the corolla-scales.—M. capitata sub. sp. albida, Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvii. (1885) 224.
South Island: Otago—(var. albiflora) Cliffs on the east and south coasts, rare, Lindsay, Buchanan! Petrie! Stewart Island and The Snares: (var. albiflora) Plentiful on the coast. Rev. Mr. Stack, Petrie! Kirk! Auckland and Campbell Islands: The typical form not uncommon. Sir J. D. Hooker, Kirk! December–February.
I have seen no specimens of the typical form save from the Auckland and Campbell Islands, but a blae-fiowered state is said to occur on cliffs near Dunedin which may be referable to it. The variety albiflora approaches Exarrhena in the stamens, but the filaments do not exceed the anthers.
9. M. explanata, Cheesem. n. sp.—Perennial; clothed in all its parts with short hardly rigid spreading white hairs; rootstock long, stout; stems usually numerous, simple, decumbent below, ascending or suberect above, leafy, 6–12 in. high. Radical leaves numerous, 2–4 in. long, linear-obovate or oblong-spathulate or linear-spathulate, obtuse or rarely subacute, narrowed into rather long broad petioles, membranous, uniformly but rather sparsely clothed on both surfaces with short soft white hairs; cauline smaller, sessile, linear-oblong or lanceolate. Racemes short, simple or branched, many-flowered, in the early flowering stage forming dense heads. Flowers large, ½ in. long, ½–⅔ in. diam., pure white, very shortly pedicelled. Calyx rather more than ⅓ in. long, hispid with straight or curved hairs; lobes linear, obtuse. Corolla-tube slightly longer than the calyx, slender, cylindrical, throat with 5 scales; limb broad, flat, spreading, with 5 rounded lobes. Stamens included; filaments very short; anther-tips level with the corolla-scales. Style long, slender. Nutlets narrow-oblong, obtuse, shining, black.
South Island: Canterbury—Mountains above Arthur's Pass, T. F. C., Cockayne! Walker's Pass, Cockayne. 3000–4500 ft. January.
A very handsome plant. It differs from the typical state of M. capitata in the large pure white flowers (which are quite twice the size of those of M. capitata), in the large calyx, and in the more membranous less hairy leaves. M. capitata var. albiflora recedes in its larger size and coarser habit, and particularly in the anthers, which are altogether above the level of the corolla-scales, whereas they are always below in M. explanata.
10. M. Traversii, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 194.—Perennial, much branched from the base, 2–6 in. high; everywhere densely hispid with erect or spreading straight or hooked stiff white hairs; rootstock long, stout; stems erect or ascending, stout, leafy. Eadical leaves 1–1½ in. long, ⅕–⅓ in. broad, linear-spathulate, obtuse, narrowed into short petioles, coriaceous, both surfaces rough and hispid; cauline numerous, linear-oblong, sessile, erect. ​Racemes many-flowered, short, simple or branched, capitate, very densely hispid. Flowers ¼–⅓ in. long, sessile or nearly so, lemon-yellow, sweet-scented. Calyx densely hispid with straight or hooked hairs, deeply 5-lobed; lobes linear, acute. Corolla-tube ⅓ longer than the calyx, narrow funnel-shaped, throat with 5 scales; lobes short, rounded. Stamens included; filaments very short; anthers with their tips just above the level of the scales. Style slender, almost equalling the corolla. Nutlets narrow-ovoid, obtuse, polished and shining, brownish-black.
South Island: Bare shingle slopes on the higher mountains, not uncommon in Nelson, Canterbury, and Westland, less abundant in Otago. 2500–6000 ft. December–February.
A well-marked plant, whose nearest ally is the following species.
11. M. angustata, Cheesem. n. sp.—Size, habit, and general appearance of M. Traversii, and like it everywhere densely hispid with straight or hooked stiff white hairs. Leaves usually narrower, ½–1½ in. long, ⅛–⅙ in. broad, narrow linear-spathulate, obtuse or subacute, gradually narrowed towards the base. Racemes manyflowered, short, simple or branched, when young forming a capitate head to the branches, very densely hispid. Flowers about ⅓ in. long, sessile or nearly so, white. Calyx densely hispid with straight or hooked hairs, divided about two-thirds way down; lobes linear, erect, acute. Corolla-tube longer than the calyx, cylindrical, throat with 5 scales; lobes short, rounded. Stamens with filaments as long as the anthers, so placed that the anthers are wholly above the level of the scales, their tips reaching half-way up the corolla-lobes. Style slender, exceeding the corolla. Ripe fruit not seen.
South Island: Nelson—Mount Arthur Plateau and Raglan Mountains, T. F. C. 3500–4500 ft. January.
I advance this as a distinct species with much hesitation, for at first sight there is little to separate it from M. Traversii except the slightly narrower leaves and white flowers. But the position of the anthers is altogether different, for in M. Traversii the filaments are excessively short, and the tips of the anthers are only just above the level of the scales, whereas in the present plant the filaments equal the anthers, which are altogether above the level of the scales. Technically, it should be placed in the section Exarrhena, but I am unwilling to remove it from the vicinity of M. Traversii.
12. M. albo-sericea, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 738.—Perennial; everywhere silvery white with closely appressed silky hairs; rootstock stout, woody, clothed with the remains of the old leaves; flowering stems one or several, rather slender, 3–6 in. high. Radical leaves very numerous, densely tufted, ½–1 in. long, 1/10–1/8 in. wide, narrow linear-spathulate, acute, gradually narrowed into a petiole longer than the blade, coriaceous, uniformly silky on both surfaces; cauline few, distant, ¼–⅓ in. long, linear-oblong or ​lanceolate. Racemes slender, many-flowered, naked. Flowers rather large, ⅓ in. long or more, bright sulphur-yellow; pedicels very short. Calyx small, about ⅓ the length of the corolla, clothed with appressed silky hairs; lobes linear, acute. Corolla broadly funnel-shaped or almost campanulate, tube short, broad above, with 5 scales in the throat; limb large, with rounded lobes. Stamens included, the tips of the anthers reaching the corolla-scales. Style long, almost equalling the corolla. Nutlets ovoid, pale greyish-brown.
South Island: Otago—Hills near Cromwell, Clutha River, Hector and Buchanan! Petrie! 800–1500 ft.
A curious and distinct species, only known from one locality, where it is fast becoming exceedingly rare.
13. M. Goyeni, Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxiii. (1891) 400.—Perennial; everywhere clothed with short rigid appressed white hairs, giving the whole plant a greyish appearance. Rootstock stout, woody; flowering stems one or several, decumbent at the base, ascending or erect at the tips, slender, branched, 4–10 in. long. Radical leaves numerous, tufted, 1½–3 in. long, ¼–⅓ in. broad, linear-spathulate, acute, gradually narrowed into a slender petiole much longer than the blade, coriaceous, uniformly hispid on both surfaces; cauline smaller and on shorter petioles, the upper sessile. Racemes slender, naked, many-flowered. Flowers large, ½–¾ in. long, pale-yellow or white with a yellow centre, almost sessile or on very short pedicels. Calyx small, ⅓ as long as the corolla, deeply 5-lobed; lobes linear-subulate, acute. Corolla broadly funnel-shaped; tube short, broad above, with 5 scales at the throat; limb large, with short rounded lobes. Stamens included, the tips of the anthers reaching the corolla-scales. Style slender, ¾ the length of the corolla. Nutlets ovoid, brownish.
South Island: Nelson—Mount Percival, Hanmer, T. F. C. Otago—Arrowtown, Cardrona Valley, Lake Hawea, Petrie! 1000–4000 ft. November–January.
Very near to M. albo-sericea, but a much larger plant, with longer branched stems, greyish (not silvery-white) pubescence, and larger flowers, which are often quite white.
14. M. spathulata, Forst. Prodr. n. 62.—Pilose or hispid in all its parts. Stems usually many from the root, branched, prostrate, ascending at the tips, slender, flaccid, sparingly leafy, 3–16 in. long. Leaves on long or short petioles; blade ⅓–1 in. long, orbicular or broadly ovate or obovate, obtuse or apiculate, membranous, hispidulous on both surfaces; cauline smaller and on shorter petioles. Flowers small, ⅛ in. long, white with a yellow eye, solitary, axillary or springing from the branches below the leaves. Calyx hispid with long straight hairs, cut ¾-way down; ​lobes linear-lanceolate, acute. Corolla funnel-shaped; tube short, hardly exceeding the calyx, throat naked or furnished with 5 scales, limb equalling the tube or slightly longer than it. Stamens inserted on the corolla-tube; filaments longer than the anthers, sometimes elongated; anthers altogether above the level of the scales and frequently reaching ¾-way up the corolla-lobes. Nutlets ovoid, pale-brown, smooth and shining, much compressed, margins thin.—D.C. Prodr. x. 112; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 201; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 193. Anchusa spathulata, R. Br. ex Rœm. and Schult. Syst. iv. 100; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 392; Raoul, Choix, 43.
North and Sooth Islands: Moist lowland stations from the Three Kings Islands southwards, not common. Chatham Islands: Cox and Cockayne! November–January .
A very variable plant. Small states sometimes have the throat of the corolla either without scales or with very obscure ones. This character was used by De Candolle to constitute his subgenus Gymnomyosotis, but there is a gradual transition from flowers without scales to others in which they are as well developed as in other species of the genus, and looking at the fact that the filaments are at least longer than the anthers it seems best to place the species in the subgenus Exarrhena, and in the neighbourhood of M. petiolata.
Some specimens collected by Petrie at Inch-Clutha (Otago) and by Kirk at Winton (Southland) have precisely the habit of M. spathulata, and the calyx and fruit are the same. But the flowers are rather smaller, the throat of the corolla is furnished with evident scales, and the filaments are shorter than the anthers, so that the latter are entirely included in the corolla-tube, their tips not reaching the level of the scales. This form will probably prove to be a distinct species.
15. M. petiolata, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 202.—Perennial; sparsely clothed with short white scabrid hairs; rootstock long, stout or slender; stems usually numerous, decumbent or prostrate at the base, then ascending, slender, sparingly leafy, 4–14 in. long. Radical and lower cauline leaves on long slender petioles ½–3 in. long; blade ⅔–2 in., broadly elliptic-oblong or elliptic-obovate, apiculate or rounded or retuse at the tip, thin and membranous, both surfaces slightly scabrid; upper cauline sessile, broadly obovate-spathulate. Racemes long, slender, many-flowered, simple or forked. Flowers ¼–⅓ in. diam., white or white with a yellow eye; pedicels rather long, slender, spreading. Calyx clothed with straight appressed hairs, 5-lobed almost to the base; lobes linear, acute. Corolla broad, campanulate; tube very short, with 5 scales at the throat; limb several times longer than the tube, deeply 5-lobed; lobes oblong, spreading. Stamens with long and slender filaments; anthers far exserted beyond the tube, almost reaching the top of the corolla-lobes. Nutlets broadly ovoid, polished and shining, dark red-brown or black.—Exarrhena petiolata, Hook. f. Handh. N.Z. Fl. 195.
North Island: Cliffs north of the Manukau Harbour, T. F. C.; East Cape, Bishop Williams! Hawke's Bay and Cape Turnagain, Colenso! Patangata, ​Tryon; near Mount Egmont, Buchanan; Ruahine Mountains, H. Hill. South Island: Nelson—Mount Arthur Plateau, T. F. C. Sea level to 3000 ft. November–January.
In habit and foliage this closely resembles large states of M. Forsteri, but the flowers are altogether unlike.
16. M. laeta, Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvii. (1885) 236.—Perennial; sparingly clothed with short white hispid hairs. Flowering stems one or few from the root, slender, erect, sparingly leafy, 6–12 in. high. Radical leaves 1–3 in. long, rarely more, oblong-spathulate or narrow obovate-spathulate, obtuse or acute, gradually narrowed into rather long petioles, membranous, both surfaces sparingly hispid; cauline few, linear-oblong or lanceolate, sessile, acute. Racemes elongate, simple, many-flowered; pedicels slender. Flowers ⅓–½ in. long, yellow or white with a yellow eye. Calyx hispid with straight or hooked white hairs, 5-partite ¾-way down; lobes linear, acute. Corolla campanulate; tube short, throat with 5 scales; limb large, with 5 short rounded lobes. Stamens with long slender filaments; anthers reaching almost to the top of the corolla-lobes. Style exserted. Nutlets ovoid, pale-brown.
North Island: Hawke's Bay, H. Tryon! South Island: Nelson—Mountains flanking the Wairau Valley, T. F. C. Marlborough—Kaikoura Mountains, Buchanan! Canterbury—Ashburton Mountains, Potts! 1500–4000 ft. December–February.
In the shape of the corolla this much resembles M. Goyeni; but the anthers are on long slender filaments, and are exserted far beyond the corollatube, almost reaching the top of the lobes.
17. M. amabilis, Cheesem. n. sp.—Perennial; everywhere densely clothed with soft white hairs; rootstock stout; flowering stems usually several, rather stout, decumbent at the base, erect above, leafy, 3–9 in. high. Radical leaves numerous, 1–2½ in. long, linear-obovate or obovate-spathulate, obtuse, narrowed into rather long broad petioles, coriaceous, equally hoary on both surfaces with short soft white hairs; cauline smaller, sessile, oblong-lanceolate or linear-oblong, acute. Racemes pedunculate, simple or forked, at first short and capitate, but lengthening as the flowering advances, many-flowered. Flowers large, white, ½–⅔ in. long, ½ in. diam., very shortly pedicelled. Calyx ⅓ in. long, densely hispid with soft white hairs, lobed about two-thirds way down; lobes lanceolate, acute. Corolla large, campanulate or broadly funnel-shaped; tube exceeding the calyx, with 5 rather narrow scales at the mouth; limb large, with 5 rounded veined lobes. Stamens attached above the level of the scales; filaments nearly twice the length of the anthers, which reach more than half-way up the corolla-lobes. Ripe fruit not seen.
North Island: Auckland—Summit of Mount Hikurangi, East Cape district, altitude 5000 ft., Petrie and Adams! January.
Evidently a very handsome plant. In habit and foliage it much resembles my M. explanata, but is smaller and stouter, with more copious hairs, and the flowers are altogether different in structure. Mr. Brown, who has compared specimens with the types at Kew, remarks that "it differs from the type of M. saxosa in its larger habit, larger leaves (which are nearly 2 diameters larger than those of M. saxosa and have a different undersurface), and the calyx is also narrower and less erect. It is more like M. Lyallii, but the flowers are more numerous and denser, and the leaves are hairy all over beneath, whilst in M. Lyallii it is only on the midrib that they are hairy beneath."
18. M. saxosa, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 202.—Perennial, small, stout, leafy, very densely hispid with rather long soft white hairs. Flowering stems decumbent at the base, ascending above, 2–3 in. high. Leaves ½–¾ in. long, Imear-spathulate, subacute or apiculate, on broad petioles. Racemes pedunculate, few-flowered; flowers crowded, shortly pedicellate. Calyx nearly ¼ in. long, deeply 5-partite; lobes linear. Corolla funnel-shaped; throat with 5 scales. Anthers shghtly exserted.—Exarrhena saxosa, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 196, so far as the North Island specimens are concerned. E. Colensoi, Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvii. (1895) 351 (in part).
North Island: Hawke's Bay—Crags at Titiokura, Colenso.
Apparently this has not been gathered since its discovery by Colenso, more than sixty years ago, for the Nelson plant united with it in the Handbook has proved to be distinct. Not having seen specimens, I am unable to do more than to reproduce in its chief features Hooker's original description given in the Flora. Mr. N. E. Brown remarks "that the only species resembling it at Kew are M. Cheesemanii, Petrie, and M. Traversii, Hook, f., from both of which it is quite distinct."
19. M. Monroi, Cheesem. n. sp.—Perennial; more or less hispid with short stiff white hairs. Flowering stems several from the root, slender, decumbent below, erect or ascending above, 2–6 in. high. Radical leaves numerous, ¾–2 in. long, narrow obovate-spathulate or lanceolate-spathulate, obtuse or subacute, narrowed into a rather long slender petiole, hispid with short stiff white hairs on the upper surface, more sparingly so beneath and sometimes glabrous except the midrib; cauline smaller and narrower, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, acute, sessile. Racemes pedunculate, simple or forked, many-flowered. Flowers yellow, ¼–⅓ in. long, shortly pedicelled. Calyx hispid with stiff white hairs, deeply lobed; lobes erect, linear, acute. Corolla funnel-shaped; tube cylindric, rather longer than the calyx, throat with 5 scales; limb spreading, shortly lobed; lobes broad, rounded. Stamens inserted between the corolla-scales; filaments twice the length of the anthers, which usually overtop the corolla-lobes. Ripe fruit not seen.—M. saxosa, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 196 (in part).
South Island: Nelson—Dun Mountain, Monro, Travers! Buchanan! Kingsley! T. F. C; Red Hills (Wairau Valley), T. F. C. 3000–4500 ft. December–February.
In the Handbook this was confused with M. saxosa. I have long been convinced of its distinctness; and Mr. N. E. Brown, who has kindly compared my specimens with the type of M. saxosa, informs me that the two are in reality very different.
20. M. Lyallii, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 202.—"A rather short and stout tufted perennial, shghtly hispid with appressed hairs. Stems several from the root, erect or ascending, rather stout, 2–6 in. high. Leaves: radical oblong-spathulate or obovate-lanceolate, subacute, 1–1½ in. long, narrowed into rather slender petioles; cauline narrow linear-oblong or oblong-spathulate, all slightly hispidulous on both surfaces with appressed hairs. Racemes short, simple or forked. Flowers very shortly pedicelled. Calyx ¼ in. long, hispid with appressed or patent, simple and hooked bristles. Corolla ⅙–¼ in. long; tube cylindric, longer than the calyx; lobes short, rounded. Stamens with long slender filaments; anthers linear. Nuts broadly ovate or orbicular, very black and shining."—Exarrhena Lyallii, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 196. ?? Myosotis (Exarrhena) oreophila, Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxviii (1896) 539.
South Island: Otago—Milford Sound, Lyall. "Habit of a small specimen of M. capitata, but the flower is very different. I have but two specimens."
I am unacquainted with this, which apparently has not been gathered since its original discovery by Dr. Lyall, and in the absence of any additional information I have reproduced Sir J. D. Hooker's description.
21. M. concinna, Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvii. (1885) 235.—Perennial; everywhere clothed with fine closely appressed soft silky hairs; rootstock rather long, stout. Flowering stems numerous, rather slender, ascending or erect, leafy, 6–14 in. high. Radical leaves numerous, 2–4 in. long, linear- or lanceolate-spathulate to narrow oblong-spathulate, acute or obtuse, gradually narrowed into long rather slender petioles, both surfaces uniformly clothed with soft silky appressed hairs, midrib usually distinct; cauline oblong-lanceolate or linear-oblong, sessile, acute. Racemes many-flowered, simple or forked, at first short and almost capitate, but elongating as the flowering advances. Flowers large, crowded, ½–⅔ in. long, bright pale-yellow or more rarely white with a yellow eye, sweet-scented, pedicellate. Calyx covered with appressed silky hairs, 5-partite; lobes linear-lanceolate, obtuse. Corolla broadly funnel-shaped; tube short, hardly exceeding the calyx, throat with 5 scales; limb large, rather longer than the tube, deeply lobed; lobes oblong-ovate, obtuse or acute. Stamens with very slender elongated filaments; anthers exserted beyond the corolla-lobes. Nutlets ovoid, red-brown, but not seen quite ripe.
South Island: Nelson—Limestone rocks on Mount Owen; Mount Arthur, T. F. C. 3500–4500 ft. January.
Habit of M. macrantha, but at once distinguished by the more silky indumentum, colour of the flowers, and particularly by the shape of the corolla, which has a short tube and large deeply divided limb, whereas in M. macrantha the tube is very long and the divisions of the limb comparatively shallow. The filaments are also much longer than in M. macrantha.
22. M. macrantha, Hook. f. & Benth. Gen. Plant. ii. 859.—Perennial; more or less densely clothed with soft spreading or appressed hairs; rootstock stout; flowering stems numerous, ascending, rather stout, leafy, 6–14 in. high. Radical leaves 2–6 in. long, lanceolate-spathulate or oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or subacute, narrowed into rather long broad petioles, both surfaces clothed wuth rather soft appressed hairs; cauline linear-oblong, sessile or the lower alone shortly petioled. Racemes many-flowered, simple or branched, short in the flowering stage but elongating in fruit, densely softly hispid. Flowers large, crowded, ⅔–1 in. long, brownish-orange, deliciously sweet-scented; pedicels very short. Calyx hispid with straight or hooked hairs, 5-lobed f-way down; lobes linear, obtuse or subacute. Corolla funnel-shaped; tube long and slender, twice the length of the calyx, throat with 5 scales; limb with 5 oblong obtuse lobes. Stamens with filaments as long as or rather longer than the anthers; anthers wholly above the level of the scales. Style slender, longer than the corolla. Nutlets linear-oblong, shining, black.—Exarrhena macrantha. Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 195.
Var. pulchra.—Similar in size and habit, but more diffuse and less hispid. Leaves thinner and more membranous, sometimes almost glabrous beneath. Corolla ⅔–¾ in. long; tube much broader, almost campanulate, scales wanting in all the flowers examined. Filaments shorter than the anthers; anthers just reaching the sinus between the corolla-lobes.
South Island: Subalpine localities from Nelson to the south-west of Otago; not uncommon, especially in the central and western portions of the Southern Alps. 2000–5000 ft. December–February.
A remarkably handsome plant. The filaments are never much longer than the anthers, and in var. pulchra are nearly as short as in the typical species of Myosotis, but as they are inserted high up the tube the anthers reach well up the corolla-limb.
2. MYOSOTIDIUM, Hook.
A stout succulent herb, 1–3 ft. high. Radical leaves large, broadly ovate-cordate or almost reniform; cauline sessile. Flowers blue, in dense corymbose cymes. Calyx deeply 5-partite. Corollatube short, throat with 5 protuberances; limb subrotate; lobes 5, spreading, obtuse, imbricate. Stamens 5, affixed to the tube of the corolla; filaments very short; anthers included. Ovary 4-lobed; ​style very shore, thick; stigma capitate. Fruit large, thick and spongy, pyramidal, 4-angled, composed of 4 coriaceous winged nutlets adhering to a central column.
A very remarkable monotypic genus confined to the Clatham Islands.
1. M. nobile, Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 5137.—Perennial, stout, pilose; rootstock long, thick, cylindrical. Eadical leaves crowded, 6–12 in. long, broadly ovate-cordate or reniform, petioled, very thick and fleshy, bright-green and glabrous, strongly nerved; cauline few, broadly ovate or oblong, sessile. Cymes dense, subglobose, 3–6 in. diam., many-flowered. Flowers ½ in. diam., dark-blue in the centre, fading towards the outside, scentless; pedicels ¼–½ in. long. Calyx-lobes broadly oblong, obtuse, more or less hispid with short appressed hairs. Corolla rotate; tube short; limb spreading, lobes rounded. Fruit ½–¾ in. diam.—Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 196; F. Muell. Veg. Chath. Is. 32; Buch. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. vii. (1875) t. 12.
Chatham Islands: Sandy soil near the sea, Travers! Enys! Chatham Islands Lily.
A noble plant, once very abundant on the coast-line of the Chatham Islands, but now fast becoming rare in a wild state.
3. TETRACHONDRA, Petrie.
A small creeping densely matted perennial herb, glabrous or nearly so. Leaves small, all opposite, elliptic-oblong, obtuse, quite entire; petioles broad, connate at the base. Flowers terminating short axillary branchlets, minute, solitary, tetramerous. Calyx persistent, deeply 4-fid; segments ovate, obtuse. Corolla slightly longer than the calyx, subrotate; tube very short, naked; limb with 4 ovate lobes imbricate in the bud. Stamens 4, inserted at the base of the sinus between the corolla-lobes; filaments as long or rather longer than the anthers; anthers 2-celled, small, rounded, dorsifixed. Ovary 4-partite to the base; style erect from between the lobes, twice as long as the ovary; stigma small. Nutlets 4, attached by a small base, rounded at the back and top, setulose, longer than the persistent calyx and style. Seed erect, albuminous; embryo cylindrical, almost as long as the albumen; cotyledons equalling the radicle.
1. T. Hamiltonii, Petrie in Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 2250.—Forming densely matted patches several inches in diameter. Leaves 1/12–1/10 in. long, rather fleshy, obscurely dotted. Flowers minute, 1/12 in. diam.— Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxv. (1893) 269. Tillaea Hamiltonii, Kirk ex W. S. Hamilton in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvii. (1885) 292.
South Island: Otago—Lowlands in the south and east. Between the Lee Stream and Taieri; Hindon; Waipahi; Invercargill, Petrie! Makarewa River, W. S. Hamilton! Sea-level to 1800 ft.
​A remarkable little plant, the systematic position of which is very doubtful. It was originally placed in Tillæa by Kirk, and no doubt there is considerable outward similarity with that genus, although it differs fundamentally in the gamopetalous corolla, the 4-lobed ovary, and the simple imbedded style. Prof. Oliver, no doubt influenced by the 4-lobed ovary, transferred it to the Boraginaceæ, although he points out ("Icones Plantarum," t. 2250) that it departs from the characters of the order in the opposite leaves connate at the base, and in the albuminous seeds. Dr. Hans Hallier, in an interesting paper printed in the "Berichten der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft" for 1902, suggests that it should be considered an anomalous member of the Scrophularineæ, and that its nearest ally is the section Pygmea of Veronica. A study of the early development of the corolla would probably either prove or disprove this view.