# Manual of the New Zealand Flora/Juncaceæ

Order LXXXIII. JUNCACEÆ.
Perennial, rarely annual herbs. Rootstock short, stout, scaly. Stems usually simple, slender, stiff, erect, cylindrical or compressed, sometimes septate within. Leaves usually all radical, often rigid and terete like the stems, sometimes flat and grassy, occasionally absent or reduced to sheaths. Flowers small, green or brown, regular, hermaphrodite or more rarely unisexual, in axillary or terminal cymes or clusters, rarely solitary. Perianth inferior, coriaceous or scarious, persistent; segments 6 in 2 series, imbricate. Stamens usually 6, inserted on the bases of the perianth-segments, the 3 interior sometimes wanting; filaments free, flattened or filiform; anthers 2-celled, introrse. Ovary superior, 1-celled or 3-celled; style short or long; stigmas 3, filiform; ovules few or many, anatropous. Fruit a 1- or 3-celled capsule, loculicidally 3-valved. Seeds few or many, erect; testa membranous, often lax at each end; albumen copious, fleshy; embryo minute.
An order of moderate size, comprising 14 genera and about 250 species. The two typical genera (Juncus and Luzula) are widely dispersed, especially in temperate or extratropical regions; the remainder of the order is mainly Australian. The species have no important properties and cannot be said to possess any economic value.
| Glabrous. Flower solitary. Ovary 1-celled, ovules many. Style long | 1. Rostkovia. |
| Glabrous. Flowers several or numerous. Ovary often 3 celled, ovules many. Style short | 2. Juncus. |
| Hairy. Flowers several or numerous. Ovary 1-celled, ovules 3. Style short | 3. Luzula. |
1. ROSTKOVIA, Desv.
Densely tufted perennial herbs. Rhizome short, horizontal, branched. Stems crowded on the rhizome, strict, erect, terete. Leaves 1 or more, together with several sheathing scales at the ​base of the stem. Flowers large, solitary, teiminal; bracts at the base 1–3, the lowest one sometimes foliaceous. Perianth-segments 6, glumaceous, distinct, linear-subulate or linear-lanceolate, erect, rigid; margins often scarious. Stamens 6; filaments very short; anthers linear, erect, basifixed. Ovary sessile, 1-celled, with 3 parietal placentas; style stout, subulate, divided above into 3 linear stigmas; ovules numerous, anatropous. Seeds small; testa appendiculate or not; embryo very small, included in the base of the fleshy albumen.
A small genus of 3 species confined to New Zealand and antarctic South America.
| Flowers ¼ in. long, exceeded by a foliaceous bract. Capsule longer than the perianth. Seeds not tailed | 1. R. sphærocarpa. |
| Flowers ¾ in. long; bract very short. Capsule not more than ½ as long as the perianth. Seeds tailed | 2. R. gracilis. |
1. R. sphærocarpa, Desv. Journ. Bot. i. (1808) 327.—Perennial, densely tufted. Stems many, crowded, erect, terete, 4–9 in. high. Leaves several, equalling or exceeding the stems, sheathing at the base, erect, rigid, pungent, polished, channelled in front. Flower solitary, terminal, ¼ in. long; bracts 2, the lowest foliaceous, twice as long as the flower or more, upper small, scarcely equalling the flower. Perianth-segments nearly equal, linear-oblong, acute. Stamens shorter than the segments; filaments linear; anthers longer than the filaments, connective unguiculate. Capsule large, equalling or exceeding the perianth, ovoid-globose, mucronate, hard and almost woody, dark-chestnut, smooth and shining. Seeds obovoid, inappendiculate.—R. magellanica, Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 81; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 291; Buchen. Monog. Junc. 70. Juncus magellanicus, Lam. Encycl. iii. 266.
Campbell Island: Mossy and springy places on the hills. Sir J. D. Hooker.
Also recorded from Fuegia, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia, and said to have been gathered on the Andes of Quito at an elevation of 13000 ft. It is included in Armstrong's list of Canterbury plants (Trans. N.Z. Inst. xii. 344), but I believe erroneously.
2. R. gracilis, Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 83, t. 47.—Perennial,densely tufted. Rhizome stout, horizontal or inclined. Stems numerous, crowded, erect, terete, smooth, 6–12 in. high, base with several pale or dark fulvous sheaths. Leaves 1–3, from slightly longer to 2 or even 3 times as long as the stems, slender, terete, rigid, grooved in front. Flower large, solitary, terminal, ½–¾ in. long; bract solitary, very small, 1/10 in. long, entire or 2-lobed. Perianth-segments linear-subulate, pale-chestnut, shining, the inner conspicuously shorter. Stamens 6, much shorter than the segments; filaments very short, broad and flat; anthers linear, 3 or 4 times as long as the filaments, connective unguiculate. Capsule ​about ⅓ in. long, narrow ovoid-oblong, obtusely trigonous, acute, chestnut-brown, coriaceous, smooth and shining, 3-valved. Seeds numerous, small, pale, produced at both ends into a long pearly-white appendage.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 292. E. novæ-zealandiæ, Buch. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. iv. (1872) 227, t. 16. Marsippospermum gracile, Buchen. in Abh. Ver. Bremen, vi. (1879) 374; Monog. Junc. 68.
South Island: Not uncommon in alpine localities, especially in the central and western portions of the Island, usually between 4500–7000 ft. Auckland and Campbell Islands: Not uncommon in rocky places, 500–1200 ft. December–February.
Easily distinguished from the preceding species by the larger flower, relatively smaller capsule, and tailed seeds. Mr. Buchanan's R. novæ-zealandiæ was published in the belief that the Auckland Islands plant always had the leaves solitary and 2 or 3 times longer than the stems, but in point of fact both New Zealand and Auckland Islands specimens are variable in the number and length of the leaves.
2. JUNCUS, Linn.
Perennial or more rarely annual herbs; stems usually densely tufted. Leaves mostly or all radical, stout or slender, terete, compressed or flat, sometimes reduced to sheathing scales. Flowers small, hermaphrodite, in axillary or terminal fascicles or cymes or panicles. Perianth-segments 6, glumaceous, distinct, lanceolate or oblong, margins often scarious, the 3 outer often with the midrib keeled or thickened. Stamens 6 or rarely 3. Ovary more or less perfectly 3-celled, rarely 1-celled; ovules usually numerous in each cell; style divided to the middle into 3 linear stigmatic lobes. Capsule completely or incompletely 3-celled, 3valved. Seeds small, ovoid or obovoid; testa minutely striate and reticulate.
A large genus of about 150 species, many of them widely distributed and some almost cosmopolitan. Of the 16 species found in New Zealand, 5 have a wide range, especially in the Northern Hemisphere; 7 extend to Australia and Tasmania, but not to any other countries; one stretches through Australia to eastern Asia and as far northwards as China and Japan; another occurs in antarctic South America; and 2 are endemic.
A. Genuini. Stems tall, terete, produced beyond the cyme into an erect often pungent tip, base clothed with leafless sheaths. Leaves wanting, or rarely 1 or 2 terete like the stem. :
| * Leaves wanting. |
| † Capsule conspicuously longer than the perianth, ovoid-trigonous. |
| Stems very tall and stout, 2–5 ft. × ⅙–¼ in. Flowers distinct in the cyme, not collected into separate groups. Stamens usually 6 | 1. J. pallidus. |
| Stems very slender, 9–24 in. × 1/25–1/10 in. Cyme lax, flowers not very numerous, distinct in the cyme. Stamens 6–3 | 2. J. pauciflorus. ​ |
| †† Capsule equalling the perianth or very slightly exceeding it. |
| Stems rather stout, 2–4 ft. × 1/10–1/6 in. Flowers 1/10–1/8 in., collected into many-flowered globose heads. Stamens usually 3. Capsule broadly oblong | 3. J. vaginatus. |
| Stems slender, 1–3 ft. × 1/20–1/8 in. Flowers 1/12–1/10 in., usually in the cyme. Stamens 3. Capsule small, thin, almost globose | 4. J. effusus. |
| ** Leaves 1 or 2, terete like the stem. |
| Tall salt-marsh plant, 1–3 ft. Cyme large, many-flowered. Stamens 6. Capsule ovoid-trigonous | 5. J. maritimus. |
| B. Graminifolii. Stem leafy at the base and sometimes upwards as well. Leaves flat or semiterete, not septate within. ||
| Annual, much branched. Leaves setaceous. Flowers pale, distinct | 6. J. bufonius. |
| Perennial, simple. Leaves grassy, flat or involute. Cyme terminal, lax. Flowers pale, distinct | 7. J. tenuis. |
| Tall, 6–18 in. Leaves flat, all radical. Flowers brown, in distinct clusters. Stamens 3 | 8. J. planifolius. |
| Tall, 6–18 in. Leaves flat or involute, all radical. Flowers brown, in distinct clusters, contracted (in the N.Z. form) into a compound head. Stamens 6 | 9. J. cæspiticius. |
| Small, 1–4 in. Leaves all radical, almost terete. Flowers brown, in a terminal 2–8-flowered head | 10. J. antarcticus. |
| Articulati. Stem leafy at the base and often upwards as well. Leaves terete or compressed, septate within, the septa usually prominent externally. ||
| Stems 9–24 in., compressed, 2-edged. Leaves 1/10–1/6 in. across, flat, multitubular. Cyme very large and compound; flowers brown. Stamens 3 | 11. J. prismatocarpus. |
| Stems 6–18 in. Leaves linear, overtopping the stems, terete or slightly compressed, unitubular. Cymes small, contracted; flowers greenish. Stamens 6 | 12. J. holoschænus. |
| Stems very slender, 6–18 in. Leaves linear-subulate, shorter than the stems, terete or compressed, unitubular. Cymes divaricate; flowers brown. Stamens 6 | 13. J. lampocarpus. |
| Stems much branched, 2–8 in. Leaves narrow, compressed. Flowers pale, in 3–8-flowered fascicles. Capsule pale, equalling or slightly longer than the perianth | 14. J. scheuchzerioides. |
| Stems much branched, 1–6 in. Leaves filiform, terete. Flowers brown, in 2–5-flowered fascicles. Capsule dark-brown or black, much exceeding the perianth | 15. J. novæ-zealandiæ. |
| Stems much-branched, 1–6 in. Leaves filiform, terete. Flowers pale, in 2–3-flowered fascicles. Capsule pale, slightly exceeding the perianth | 16. J. pusillus. |
1. J. pallidus, R. Br. Prodr. 258.—Pale greyish-green, densely-tufted, very tall and robust, 2–5 ft. high. Rhizome short, very stout and woody. Stems often ¼ in. diam., cylindric, finely striate, with several large and lax sheathing scales at the base, which are usually dark-chestnut below, straw-coloured above, sometimes pale through​out; pith continuous, not irregularly interrupted. Inflorescence lateral; cymes large, much branched, effuse or contracted; branches unequal in length. Flowers ⅛ in. long, pale, distinct or crowded on the ultimate branches of the cyme, in some forms almost secund. Perianth-segments lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acute, rather rigid, pale, the 3 inner slightly smaller than the outer. Stamens 6. Capsule exceeding the perianth, ovoid-trigonous, obtuse, pale, shining, incompletely 3-celled. Seeds very minute, ferruginous, obliquely oblong, tipped with a white point.—Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 130; Buchen. Monog. Junc. 237. J. vaginatus, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 263, and Handb. N.Z. Fl. 289 (not of R. Br.). J. macrostigma, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvii. (1885) 253.
Var. triandrus.—Similar to the typical form in size and habit, but the pith interrupted with irregular cavities, stamens 3 only, and capsule smaller and blunter, more oblong in shape.
North and South Islands: Damp places from the Auckland Isthmus southwards, not common. Sea-level to 2000 ft. December–February. Var. triandrus: Vicinity of Auckland, T.F.C.; Paterson's Inlet, Stewart Island, D. Petrie!
A common Australian plant. It is without doubt the Juncus tenax var major of the Banks and Solander MSS., as pointed out by Mr. Rendle (Journ. Bot. xxxviii. (1900) 80); but Brown's name is the earliest accompanied by a sufficient description. The typical state is easily recognised by its large size, the six stamens, and the ovoid-trigonous capsule considerably exceeding the perianth.
2. J. pauciflorus, R. Br. Prodr. 259.—Usually very slender, 9–24 in. high. Rhizome short, horizontal, creeping. Stems densely crowded on the rhizome, 1/25–1/10 in. diam., erect, terete, wiry, smooth or finely striate; pith continuous or interrupted; basal scales closely appressed, usually red-brown, smooth and shining below, strongly grooved above. Inflorescence lateral; cymes lax, irregularly compound; branches few, slender, spreading. Flowers not nearly so numerous as in the allied species and sometimes very few, distinct, about 1/10 in. long, pale or dark-chestnut. Perianth-segments equal or the outer rather longer, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acute or the inner obtuse, margins broad, membranous. Stamens 6 or 3. Capsule exceeding the perianth, ovoid-trigonous, obtuse or shortly pointed, shining, stramineous to chestnut-brown, incompletely 3-celled. Seeds minute, obliquely obovoid, ferruginous, apiculate.—Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 129; Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. (1882) 384; Buchen. Monog. Junc. 238.
North and South Islands: Not uncommon in wet places throughout. Sea-level to 2500 ft. December–February.
Also in Australia, where it ranges from Queensland to Tasmania. In its usual state distinguished without much difficulty by the small size, very slender stems, lax few-flowered inflorescence, and ovoid-trigonous capsule dis​tinctly longer than the perianth, but specimens with a closer many-flowered inflorescence cannot be separated from J. effusus in the absence of ripe fruit. Buchenau's var. Gunnii appears to be a mere form difiering slightly in the darker-coloured basal sheaths and flowers, and slightly longer capsule.
3. J. vaginatus, R. Br. Prodr. 258.—Very densely tufted, rather stout, 2–3 ft. high or even more. Rhizome stout, woody, creeping. Stems very closely packed on the rhizome, 1/12–1/6 in. diam., strict, erect, terete, finely striate; pith interrupted with irregular cavities; basal sheaths large, rather lax, smooth and shining and dark red-brown at the base, pale straw-coloured and distinctly grooved above. Inflorescence lateral, large, branched; the branches few or many, stilif, erect, rather close together, bearing distinct compact globose many-flowered heads. Flowers 1/10–1/8 in. long, pale-brown. Perianth-segments lanceolate, acute, strammeous, the inner ones rather shorter than the outer. Stamens usually 3, rarely 6. Capsule equalling the perianth or only very slightly exceeding it, broadly oblong, obscurely trigonous, obtuse at the tip.—Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 129; Buchen. in Engl. Bot. Jahr. xxi. (1895) 264. J. australis, Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 66, t. 13a; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 289.
North and South Islands: Marshy places from the North Cape to Banks Peninsula, not uncommon. December–February.
In referring Hooker's J. australis to the Australian J. vaginatus I have followed Buchenau's recent memoir on the Australian Junci Genuini (Engl. Bot. Jahr. 1895), and the opinion expressed by Mr. Rendle (Journ. Bot. 1900, 81). The New Zealand plant can generally be separated from J. effusus (polyanthemus, Buchen.) by the larger size, by the inflorescence being split up into distinct little rounded cymes or groups of flowers, and by the larger and rather narrower capsule; but some states are difficult to place. Smaller and more slender forms show an approach to J. pauciflorus, but the capsule of that species usually much exceeds the perianth.
4. J. effusus, Linn. Sp. Plant. 326.—Pale or brownish-green, very densely tufted, 1–3 ft. high. Rhizome short, stout, horizontal. Stems crowded on the rhizome, 1/20–1/8 in. diam., erect, soft or stiff and wiry, terete, finely striate; pith continuous or interrupted; basal sheaths appressed, opaque, smooth below, grooved above. Inflorescence lateral; cymes lax or rather dense, much branched; branches slender, unequal, often curved. Flowers numerous, small, 1/12–1/10 in. long, green or pale-chestnut, usually scattered along the branches of the cyme, rarely collected into separate groups. Perianth-segments equal or the outer rather longer, linear-lanceolate, acute, thin, margins membranous, scarious. Stamens 3, much shorter than the segments; anthers linear. Capsule about equalling the perianth, broadly oblong or obovoid, obscurely trigonous, obtuse or almost retuse at the tip, thin, shining, pale ferruginous or stramineous. Seeds numerous, obliquely obovoid, apiculate, pale ferruginous.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 263 (in part); Buchen. ​Monog. Junc. 228. J. communis, E. Mey. Junc. 12; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 128; Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 290. J. luxurians, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xix. (1887) 269. J. polyanthemus, Buchen. in Engl. Bot. Jahr. xxi. (1895) 261.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Abundant in damp places throughout. Sea-level to 3000 ft. Wiwi. November–February.
Under the name of J. effusus I have for the present placed several forms which, though not exactly agreeing with the typical J. effusus, appear to be too close to it to be considered as distinct species. One of these has the tall soft stems with continuous pith, lax pale inflorescence, and small broadly obovoid almost retuse capsule of the typical state, and to my mind cannot possibly be separated from it. A second and most abundant variety has more slender rigid and wiry stems, with interrupted pith, and the capsule is rounded and imperfectly 3-celled. This I take to be the J. polyanthemus of Buchenau. Closely allied to it is a still more slender form with the inflorescence split up into small rounded glomerules, almost after the fashion of J. vaginatus (australis, Hook. f.), but differing altogether in habit and in the small capsule. Buchenau, in his monograph of the order, placed it under J. pauciflorus as var. Cheesemanii, although wanting the ovoid exserted capsule of that species. He now refers it to his J. polyanthemus. How far I am correct in merging the above, together with other less prominent varieties, under one species can only be determined by a leisurely and comprehensive study of the whole of the New Zealand forms, based upon more numerous specimens than have hitherto been collected, and checked by observations in the field. J. effusus, as ordinarily understood, is almost cosmopolitan in its distribution.
5. J. maritimus, Lam. Encycl. iii. 264; var. australiensis, Buchen. Monog. Junc. 257.—Densely tufted, tall, stout, dark-coloured, 1–3 ft. high. Rhizome short, thick, horizontal. Stems crowded on the rhizome, rigid, wiry, terete, pungent, furnished at the base with several chestnut-brown sheathing scales, the upper 1 or 2 of which are produced into terete leaves similar to the stems but shorter than them. Inflorescence lateral; cymes large, lax, irregularly branched; branches strict, erect. Flowers about ⅛ in. long, dark chestnut-brown, usually aggregated into little clusters. Perianth-segments lanceolate, acute, the inner rather shorter. Stamens 6; anthers linear. Capsule ovoid-trigonous, acute, only slightly exceeding the perianth, dark chestnut-brown. Seeds obovoid, very shortly tailed.—J. maritimus, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 145; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 292; Raoul, Choix, 40; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 263; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 289.
North and South Islands: Brackish-water marshes or sands from the North Cape to Banks Peninsula, abundant. Inland on the shores of Lake Kotorua, and by the Waikato Eiver near Orakeikorako. December–January.
Also common on most parts of the Australian coast. It differs from the typical state of the species, which has a wide distribution in the north temperate zone, in the darker colour of the whole plant, in the smaller and more densely aggregated darker flowers, in the shorter capsule, and in the less evident tails to the seeds.
​6. J. bufonius, Linn. Sp. Plant. 328.—Annual, pale-green, much branched from the base, often forming dense tufts, 3–12 in. high; roots fibrous. Leaves radical and cauline, very narrow-linear or almost filiform, sheathing at the base, flat or channelled above, grassy, setaceous, pith not jointed. Cyme large, occupying the greater part of the stem; branches long or short, sometimes flexuous. Flowers ⅙–¼ in. long, sessile or nearly so, solitary or in fascicles of 2–3; bracteoles broadly ovate, scarious, much shorter than the flowers. Perianth-segments lanceolate, acuminate, with broad scarious margins; the 3 inner rather shorter than the outer. Stamens usually 6, but sometimes 3 only in the terminal flowers. Capsule shorter than the erect perianth-segments, obiong, obtuse. Seeds numerous, minute, ovoid-oblong, obtuse, delicately lineolate.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 261; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 290; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 127; Buchen. Monog. Junc. 174.
North and South Islands, Chatham Islands, Stewart Island, Auckland Islands: From the Three Kings Islands and the North Cape southwards, abundant. Sea level to 4000 ft. November2January.
Almost universally distributed in temperate climates.
7. J. tenuis, Willd. Sp. Plant. ii. 214.—A laxly tufted perennial, with a short rhizome and numerous wiry roots. Stems several in a tuft, slender, erect, wiry, terete, 9–18 in. high. Leaves few, mostly radical, usually shorter than the stem, very narrow-linear, grassy, flat or more generally involute or channelled; base sheathing, membranous. Cymes terminal, lax, much exceeded by the leafy filiform bracts. Flowers ⅛–⅙ in. long, pale-green, remote or clustered. Perianth-segments lanceolate, acuminate, slightly spreading in fruit. Stamens 6, about half the length of the perianth-segments; anthers ovate. Style very short. Capsule ovoid-trigonous or almost globose, obtuse or slightly retuse, rather shorter than the perianth-segments, pale stramineous. Seeds obliquely obovoid, mmutely apiculate.—Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xi. (1879) 433; Buchen. Monog. Junc. 193. J. involucratus, Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. ix. (1877) 550.
North and South Islands: In various localities from Mongonui to Dunedin, not uncommon. Sea-level to 3000 ft. November–January.
An abundant North American plant, extending into some parts of South America, found also in western Europe, &c. It is a very doubtful native of New Zealand, and has certainly increased its range considerably of late years.
8. J. planifolius, R. Br. Prodr. 259.—Tufted, perfectly glabrous, 6–18 in. high. Roots many, long, fibrous. Leaves all radical, much shorter than the stems, numerous, flat and grassy, membranous, 1/10–1/4 in. broad, dilated at the base into long imbricating sheaths. Flowering stems or culms long, slender, naked, bearing at the top an irregularly umbellately branched compound cyme; bracts at the ​base of the inflorescence usually 1 or 2, short, leafy, sometimes small and scarious. Flowers small, 1/10 in. long, chestnut-brown, crowded in many-flowered heads at the ends of the branches of the cymes. Perianth- segments subequal or the outer rather shorter, obiong-lanceolate, acute. Stamens 3. Capsule equalling the perianth or very slightly longer than it, obovoid, trigonous, mucronate. Seeds numerous, minute, ovoid, very minutely reticulated.—Raoul, Choix, 40; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 263; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 290; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 125; Buchen. Monog. Junc. 433.
North and South Islands, Chatham Islands, Stewart Island, Auckland Islands: Abundant throughout. Sea-level to 3000 ft. November–January.
An abundant plant in Australia and Tasmania, also found in Chili.
9. J. cæspiticius, E. Mey. in Lehm. Pl. Preiss. ii. 47; var. bracteatus, Buchen. Monog. Junc. 439.—A tufted perennial 6–18 in. high; roots numerous, fibrous. Leaves all radical, much shorter than the stem, very numerous, grassy, erect, gradually tapering from a long and broad sheathing base to a long subulate acuminate point, margins involute. Flowering- stems long, slender, naked. Cyme contracted into a dense conglobate head ½–1½ in. diam.; bracts at the base 1–3, leafy, much exceeding the cyme. Flowers rather longer than in J. planifolius, about ⅛ in. long, crowded in many-flowered fascicles. Perianth-segments unequal, the 3 outer distinctly shorter. Stamens 6, about half the length of the segments. Capsule equalling the perianth or slightly exceeding it, ovoid-trigonous, obtuse, mucronate. Seeds minute, but rather larger than in J. planifolius, ovoid, smooth or very indistinctly reticulated.—Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 126.
North and South Islands: From the Auckland Isthmus to Otago, rather local. November–January.
Closely allied to J. planifolius, with which it has been confounded by most New Zealand botanists. It can be distinguished by the narrower involute leaves, densely congested cymes, rather larger flowers, the stamens always 6 in number, and in the fewer and larger smoother seeds. The typical state, which is common in Australia, has the cyme laxly branched, with shorter bracts.
10. J. antarcticus, Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 79, t. 46.—A small densely tufted perennial 1–4 in. high; roots long, fibrous. Leaves very numerous, all radical, equalling or shorter than the stems, suberect or curved, linear-subulate, flat towards the base, semiterete or obscurely canaliculate above, cylindric towards the apex, obtuse, pith not jointed within; sheathing base long, broad, margins scarious. Stem terete, smooth, naked, terminating in a 2–8-flowered head, rarely a second head is produced lower down. Bracts ovate, membranous, rarely longer than the flowers. Flowers crowded, ​about ⅛ in. long, dark chestnut-brown. Perianth-segments equal, lanceolate, acute. Stamens 3, rarely 6; anthers ovate. Capsule equalling the perianth, ovoid-trigonous, subacute. Seeds ovoid, obtuse, shining, obsoletely reticulate.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 290; Buchen. Monog. Junc. 432. J. pauciflorus, Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. ix. (1877) 551 (not of R. Br.). J. brevifolius, Kirk, l.c. xiv. (1882) 382.
North Island: Rangipo Plain, near the foot of Ruapehu, Petrie! South Island: Nelson—Mount Arthur, Mount Owen, T.F.C.; Lake Rotoiti, Kirk. Canterbury—Broken River, J. D. Enys! Kirk! T.F.C.; Tasman Valley, T.F.C. Otago—Not uncommon in the central and southern districts, Buchanan! Petrie! Stewart Island: Kirk! Auckland and Campbell Islands: Hooker, Kirk! Usually from 1500–4000 ft., but descends to sea-level in Otago and the islands to the south. December–February.
A very distinct species. The Campbell Island plant is said to have 6 stamens and the culms hardly longer than the leaves, whereas in New Zealand the stamens are nearly always 3, and the culms usually (but not invariably) exceed the leaves. I agree with Professor Buchenau in considering Kirk's J. brevifolius to be a mere state of J. antarcticus.
11. J. prismatocarpus, R. Br. Prodr. 259.—Perennial, laxly tufted. Stems erect or sometimes decumbent and rooting at the nodes towards the base, leafy, compressed, often 2-edged, not jointed, 9–24 in. high. Leaves always shorter than the stems, 3–9 in. long, 1/12–1/8 broad, gradually narrowed to an acute tip, strongly compressed, flat, soft, multitubular, incompletely and often indistinctly septate; sheathing base long, compressed, tip with 2 obtuse lobes. Cyme very large and compound, with 1 or 2 short leafy bracts at the base; branches long, slender, divaricating. Flowers ⅛–⅙ in. long, greenish or greenish-brown, in many-flowered globular clusters. Perianth-segments about equal, linear-lanceolate or subulate-lanceolate, acuminate. Stamens 3, much shorter than the segments. Capsule usually considerably longer tban the perianth, pale, narrow, prismatic, triquetrous, 1-celled, placentas very feebly developed. Seeds ovoid, apiculate.—Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 131 (in part); Buchen. Monog. Junc. 311.
North Island: Wet places in lowland stations from the Bay of Islands to Wellington, not uncommon. South Island: Nelson—Motueka Valley, T.F.C. November–January.
Easily distinguished from J. holoschœnus by the strongly compressed stems, flattened and incompletely septate leaves, large spreading cymes, and by the stamens being 3 only. It is widely diffused in Australia and eastern Asia.
12. J. holoschœnus, R. Br. Prodr. 259.—Stems laxly tufted, creeping at the base, strict and erect above, terete or subcompressed, smooth, leafy, 6–18 in. high. Leaves few, equalling or exceeding the stems, erect from a long sheathing base, tapering into a long acuminate point, terete or slightly compressed, fistular, ​completely and distinctly septate. Cymes terminal, sparingly branched, more or less contracted, usually of 3–8 fascicles, rarely more; bract at the base long, foliaceous, usually overtopping the cyme. Flowers 10–20 in each fascicle, greenish, about ⅙ in. long. Perianth-segments equal, lanceolate, acuminate. Stamens 6, about half the length of the perianth-segments. Capsule equalling the perianth or rather longer than it, narrow, prismatic, triquetrous, 1-celled, the placentas not very conspicuous inside the cells. Seeds ovoid-oblong, grooved and transversely rugose, apiculate at each end.—Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 290; Buchenan Monog. Junc. 357. J. prismatocarpus, Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 131 (in part). J. cephalotes, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 263 (not of Thunb.).
North Island: Swamps from the Bay of Islands southwards to Wellington, not common. Sea-level to 2500 ft. November–February.
Also found in Australia and Tasmania. Bentham unites it with J. prismatacarpus, from which it appears to me to be abundantly distinct, as pointed out under that species.
13. J. lampocarpus, Ehr. Calam. n. 126.—Perennial, more or less densely tufted. Stems erect or ascending, rarely decumbent at the base, slender, terete or compressed, soft, leafy, 6–18 in. high. Leaves shorter than the stems, 3–9 in. long, 1/20–1/12 broad, linear-subulate, straight or curved, compressed or nearly terete, unitubular, strongly septate; sheathing base long and narrow, with 2 obtuse auricles at the tip. Cyme terminal, compound; branches slender, divaricate, bearing small 2–5-flowered heads at the tips and in the axils; lower bract much shorter than the cyme, leafy. Flowers small, 1/10–1/8 in. long, chestnut-brown. Perianth-segments equal, lanceolate, acute. Stamens 6, much shorter than the segments. Capsule exceeding the perianth, narrow, pyramidal, triquetrous, mucronate, reddish-brown, glossy, 1-celled. Seeds obovoid, reticulate.—Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. vii. (1876) 378; Buchen. Monog. Junc. 376.
North and South Islands: From the Auckland Isthmus to Foveaux Strait, not uncommon in wet places. Sea-level to 3500 ft. November–February.
A common plant in many parts of the north temperate zone, but in the Southern Hemisphere apparently restricted to New Zealand. Perhaps not truly indigenous, although now widely spread, even in remote mountain districts.
14. J. scheuchzerioides, Gaud. in Ann. Sci. Nat. Ser. i. 5 (1825) 100.—Stems usually much branched below, often prostrate and rooting, 2–8 in. long or more, leafy throughout. Leaves strict, erect, 1–5 in. long, far exceeding the culms, narrow-linear, attenuated at the apex, compressed, striate, pale-green, soft and herbaceous, pith with transverse joints; sheathing base long and broad, mem​branous, with 2 rounded auricles at the tip. Scape very short, much overtopped by the leaves, bearing 1 or 2 pale-coloured 3–8-flowered heads. Flowers crowded, ⅛ in. long. Perianth-segments equal, lanceolate, acuminate, with scarious margins. Stamens 6, almost as long as the perianth-segments. Capsule equalling the perianth or rather longer than it, ovoid-trigonous. Seeds numerous, ovoid, obtuse, finely reticulated.—Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 80; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 291; Buchen. Monog. Junc. 286.
South Island: Otago—Lake district, alpine, Hector and Buchanan (Handbook). Auckland and Campbell Islands: In boggy places, Hooker. Antipodes Island: Kirk!
I have seen no specimens but Mr. Kirk's, which have the habit of J. novæ-zealandiæ. Professor Buchenau appears to doubt the identity of the New Zealand plant with the South American J. scheuchzerioides, to which it was referred by Hooker. I have had no opportunity of comparing specimens.
15. J. novæ-zealandiæ, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 264.—Stems very slender, much branched, densely tufted, often forming large patches, creeping and rooting at the base, erect above, 1–6 in. high. Leaves longer or shorter than the stem and sheathing it for the greater part of its length, very slender, filiform, terete, striate, pith with transverse joints; sheathing base long, membranous, with 2 rounded lobes at the tip. Flowers 1/10 in. long, chestnut-brown, in 2–5-flowered fascicles; fascicles either solitary and terminal or 2–3 superposed. Perianth-segments ovate or ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, usually chestnut-brown, margins broad, membranous, hyaline. Stamens 6, equalling the perianth-segments or slightly exceeding them. Capsule ⅛–⅙ in. long, nmch longer than the perianth, broadly ovoid-trigonous, obtuse, shortly mucronate, dark chestnut-brown or almost black, smooth, shining. Seeds minute, ovoid, pale-brown; testa minutely reticulate.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 291; Buchan. Monog. Junc. 289.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Mountain-swamps from the Ease Cape and Taranaki southwards, abundant. Sea-level to 4,500 ft. December–March.
16. J. pusillus, Buchen. in Abh. Nat. Ver. Bremen, vi. (1879) 395.—Very similar to J. novæ-zealandiæ in habit and general appearance, but paler, rather smaller, and still more slender. Leaves longer or shorter than the stems, capillary, terete, striate, pith with transverse joints; sheaths thin and membranous, with hyaline margins and 2 rounded lobes at the top. Flowers pale-coloured, small, about 1/12 in. long, solitary or in 2–3-flowered fascicles; fascicles seldom more than one. Perianth-segments lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acute or subacute, pale-green; margins membranous. Stamens 6, equalling the perianth-segments or rather longer. Capsule 1/10 in. long, slightly exceeding the perianth, narrow ovoid-trigonous, shortly beaked, pale, smooth. ​Seeds smaller and narrower than in J. novæ-zealandiæ.—Buchen. Monog. Junc. 290. J. capillaceus, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 264; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 291; Fl. Tasm. ii. 65, t. 134b; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 132 (not of Lamarck).
North and South Islands: Swampy places from the Bay of Plenty southwards, not so common as J. novæ-zealandiæ. Sea-level to 4000 ft. December–March.
I suspect that this will prove to be a variety of J. novæ-zealandiæ, from which there is little to separate it, except the smaller paler-coloured flowers and smaller and narrower capsule, which is often scarcely longer than the perianth. I have several states which appear to be quite intermediate. It is also found in south-eastern Australia and Tasmania.
3. LUZULA, D.C.
Perennial herbs, usually tufted. Leaves grass-like, mostly radical, more or less ciliate with long flexuous white hairs. Flowers small, crowded in small fascicles or placed singly, the fascicles or single flowers arranged in an irregularly branched simple or compound umbel or cyme, sometimes contracted into a globose or spiciform head, each flower with a bract and 2 bracteoles. Perianth-segments 6, glumaceous, distinct. Stamens 6, hypogynous or the 3 inner attached to the base of the segments; filaments filiform; anthers oblong or linear. Ovary sessile, 1-celled; style filiform, with 3 long stigmatic lobes; ovules 3, erect from a short basal placenta. Capsule 3-valved. Seeds 3, or fewer by abortion, globose or ovoid; testa minutely reticulated.
Species variously estimated from 30 to 50, most plentiful in the temperate portions of the Northern Hemisphere, also found on the mountains of the tropics. The Australian and New Zealand species are all vtry near to the protean L. campestris, and are so highly variable as to present an almost inextricable series of closely allied forms.
* Small, 1–2 in. high, forming compact cushion-shaped masses. :
| Stems much shorter than the leaves and concealed by them. Flowers pale | 1. L. Colensoi. |
| Stems about equalling the leaves. Inflorescence simple. Perianth-segments lanceolate, acute | 2. L. micrantha. |
| Stems exceeding the leaves. Inflorescence usually simple. Perianth-segments subulate, acuminate, dark-chestnut with very narrow margins | 3. L. pumila. |
| Stems exceeding the leaves. Inflorescence usually compound. Perianth-segments ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, with broad white margins | 4. L. Cheesemanii. |
| ** Stems often densely tufted but never forming cushion-shaped masses. |
| Small, slender, 1–4 in. high. Inflorescence a terminal solitary 3–8-flowered head. Stamens 3 | 5. L. leptophylla. |
| Variable in size, 4–18 in. Leaf-tip obtuse, often callous. Inflorescence lax or contracted, many-flowered | 6. L. campestris. |
| Usually from 6 to 14 in. Leaf-tip subulate, acute. Inflorescence of dense spikes congested into a pyramidal head | 7. L. racemosa. |
​1. L. Colensoi, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 293.—Small, moss-like, densely tufted, nearly glabrous, forming rounded cushions 1–3 in. across. Stems very short. Leaves much longer than the stems, ¼–¾ in. long, subulate, tapering from a broad sheathing base to an obtuse tip, rigid and coriaceous, channelled in front, convex on the back, glabrous above the middle, margins of the sheath and lower part of the leaf sparingly ciliate. Inflorescence of 2 to 6 few-flowered fascicles compacted into a dense head concealed among the leaves; lower bracts leafy, exceeding the flowers; remainder small, white, membranous, lacerate. Flowers about 1/12 in. long. Perianth-segments equal, ovate-lanceolate, acute or subacute, chestnut-brown with pale membranous margins and tips. Stamens 6, from slightly shorter to slightly longer than the segments. Capsule almost equalling the perianth, ovoid-globose, trigonous, red-brown. Seeds ferruginous, obliquely ovoid.—Buchen. Monog. Junc. 145.
North Island: Mount Egmont, T.F.C.; Ruapehu, H. Hill! Rev. F. H. Spencer! Ruahine Mountains, Colenso! Mount Holdsworth, W. Townson! South Island: Nelson Gordon's Nob, Mount Owen, Mount Peel, T.F.C. Westland—Kelly's Hill, Petrie! Cockayne! Otago—Longwood Range, Kirk! 4000–6000 ft. January–February.
Easily distinguished by its small size and very short stems, the flowers being sunk among the leaves. Buchenau's var. macrostemon (Oesterr. Bot, Zeit. 1898), separated on account of the stamens slightly exceeding the perianth, does not appear to me to be really distinct, the stamens often varying in length.
2. L. micrantha, Buchen. in Oesterr. Bot. Zeit. 1898.—Densely tufted, forming compact rounded patches. Stems rigid, erect, ½–1½ in. high, leafy at the base. Leaves equalling the stems, straight, rigid, erect, narrow-linear, obtuse at the tip, broadly sheathing at the base, flat or slightly concave in front, rounded or almost flat at the back; margins cartilaginous, glabrous; sheaths membranous, striate, slightly ciliate at the tip. Inflorescence simple, terminal, capitate, 3–8-flowered; the lowest bract (or the 2 lowest) foliaceous, overtopping the inflorescence, the remainder small, membranous, lacerate. Flowers about 1/10 in. long. Perianth-segments equal, lanceolate, acute, reddish-brown, with very narrow hyaline margins. Stamens 6, rather more than half as long as the perianth-segments. Capsule elllptic-trigonous, almost equalling the perianth, acute, shining, red-brown, paler at the base.
Var. triandra.—Size and habit of the type, but leaves rather narrower, often curved, and usually canaliculate. Heads 6–12-flowered. Stamens 3.—L. triandra, Buchen. '.c.
Var. crenulata.—Very densely pulvinate. Leaves very narrow, subulate, canaliculate. Inflorescence 2–6-flowered. Perianth-segments crenulate at the tips. Stamens 6. Capsule obovoid, trigonous, obtuse.—L. crenulata, Buchen. l.c.
South Island: Otago—Mount Cardrona, Petrie! Vars. triandra and crenulata: Rock and Pillar Range, Petrie! 4000–6000 ft. December–February.
​The three plants united here under the name of L. micrantha are considered by Buchenau to represent three distinct species. I suspect that all are nothing more than depauperated short-stemmed forms of L. pumila.
3. L. pumila, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 293.—Small, densely tufted, forming small cushion-shaped masses. Stems slender, erect, 1–2 in. high. Leaves shorter than the stems, ⅓–1 in. long, linear-subulate, gradually narrowed to an obtuse tip, strict, erect, rigid, striate, channelled in front, convex behind, margins of the lower half and sheath sparingly ciliate. Inflorescence a dense terminal 4–10-flowered head; lowest bract foliaceous; the rest membranous, lacerate, pale chestnut-brown. Flowers about 1/10 in. long, chestnut-brown. Perianth-segments subulate-lanceolate, long-acuminate, the 3 outer distinctly larger, dark-chestnut, without pale margins or with very indistinct ones. Stamens 6, about half as long as the perianth-segments. Capsule broadly obovoid, trigonous, from ½ to ⅔ the length of the perianth, dark chestnutbrown or almost black. Seeds oblong, minutely carunculate at the base.—Buchen. Monog. Junc. 144.
South Island: Nelson—Mountains above the Wairau Gorge, T.F.C.; Mount Captain, Kirk! Canterbury—Mount Torlesse, Haast! T.F.C.; Craigieburn Mountains, Cockayne! Mount Darwin, Haast; Mount Dobson, T.F.C. Otago—Not uncommon on the central and western mountains, Petrie! 4000–6500 ft. January–February.
Best recognised by the stems distinctly overtopping the leaves, lanceolate-subulate perianth-segments, which are dark-chestnut with a very inconspicuous pale margin, and short almost black capsule.
4. L. Cheesemanii, Buchen. Monog. Junc. 146.—Small, densely tufted, forming compact patches. Stems slender, erect, 1–2 in. high. Leaves shorter than the stems or equalling them, ½–1½ in. long, linear-subulate, obtuse at the tip, rigid, concave in front, rounded on the back, grooved, margins ciliated throughout with long white hairs. Inflorescence of from 1 to 3 2–6-flowered fascicles congested into a terminal head; lowest bract leafy, often reddish, equalling the head; the remainder small, white, membranous. Flowers 1/9 in. long. Perianth - segments about equal, ovate-lauceolate, acute, thin, with a blackish-chestnut stripe down the centre and very broad silvery-white margins. Stamens 6, about half as long as the perianth-segments. Capsule shorter than the perianth, ovoid-globose, trigonous, mucronate, dark chestnut-brown or almost black. Seeds obliquely ovoid, minutely carunculate at the base.
South Island: Nelson—Summit of Gordon's Nob, T.F.C. Marlborough—Mount Mouatt, Kirk! Canterbury—Black Range, T.F.C.; Craigieburn Mountains, Petrie! Otago—Mount Kyeburn, Dunstan Mountains, Petrie! 4000–6000 ft. December–February.
​Closely allied to L. pumila, from which it differs in the more compound inflorescence, and in the much broader perianth-segments, with very conspicuous silvery-white margins.
5. L. leptophylla, Buchen. and Petrie in Oesterr. Bot. Zeit. 1898.—Small, slender, stoloniferous, 1–4 in. high. Leaves all radical, much shorter than the stems, ½–2 in. long, very narrow, almost filiform, tip obtuse, margins convolute, glabrous or nearly so, mouth of the sheath with a tuft of slender hairs. Inflorescence terminal, of a single 3–8 flowered head, or more rarely the head consists of 2 closely compacted clusters; bract at the base of the head small, leafy. Flowers small, about 1/12 in. long. Perianth-segments about equal or the outer a little shorter, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute, central portion dark chestnut-brown or almost black; margins broad, pale, membranous. Stamens 3, filaments filiform. Capsule equalling the perianth, rounded-obovoid, shining, dark-chestnut, sometimes almost black.
South Island: Otago—Mount Kyeburn, Petrie! 2000–3500 ft. December–January.
A very curious little plant, of which I have seen no specimens except Mr. Petrie's. It appears to differ from reduced states of L. campestris in the exceedingly slender stems, almost filiform leaves, and 3 stamens.
6. L. campestris, D.C. Fl. Fr. iii. 161.—Excessively variable in all its parts. Stems more or less densely tufted, stout or slender, very variable in size, usually from 6–14 in. high, but often reduced to 2 in., and sometimes reaching 18 or 20 in. Leaves mostly radical, always shorter than the stems, generally flat and grassy, but varying in breadth from 1/10 to ⅓ in., gradually narrowed into an obtuse and usually callous tip; margins flat or thickened, more or less ciliate with long hairs and often copiously so. Inflorescence very variable, in the most developed forms of numerous clusters on the branches of an umbellate cyme, the branches very unequal in length; but frequently the clusters are greatly reduced in number and the branches are often so short that the inflorescence is congested into a pyramidal or ovoid entire or lobed head. Lower bracts foliaceous; upper membranous, entire or lacerate, more or less ciliate. Flowers 1/10–1/6 in. long. Perianth-segments ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute, subequal, margins usually membranous, often white. Stamens 6. Capsule equalling the perianth, broadlv ovoid or obovoid, trigonous, obtuse, usually shortly mucronate.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 264; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 292; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 123; Buchen. Monog. Junc. 155.
Var. migrata, Buchen. in Oesterr. Bot. Zeit. 1898.—Stems 4–15 in. high. Leaves ⅛–⅕ in. broad; margins flat, not usually cartilaginous, ciliate but not conspicuously so. Inflorescence well developed, usually lax, the lateral clusters pedunculate. Flowers 1/10–1/8 in. long. Perianth-segments lanceolate, acute, dark chestnut-brown with white membranous margins.—L. campestris var. a, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 292. L. rhadina, Buchen. l.c. (a form with very narrow erect leaves).
​North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands: Abundant throughout, from sea-level to 4500 ft.
Var. Petriana, Buchen. l.c.—Rather stout, tufted, 4–12 in. high. Leaves narrow, 1/15–1/8 in. broad, sparingly ciliate. Inflorescence less developed, usually with the lateral clusters shortly stipitate, but sometimes contracted into a conglobate head. Upper bracts more or less lacerate. Perianth-segments lanceolate, acute, very dark chestnut-brown without white margins or with very obscure ones. Capsule shorter than the perianth. L. Wettsteinii, Buchen. l.c., appears to be a tall excessively slender state of this.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Auckland Islands: Abundant in hilly or mountain districts, ascending to 4500 ft.
Var. picta, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 292.—Slender, often flaccid, 3–18 in. high. Leaves flat, grassy. Inflorescence lax, the clusters rather few, the lateral ones peduncled. Flowers ⅛–⅙ in. long. Perianth-segments linear-lanceolate, long-acuminate, with very broad white membranous margins and a narrow stripe of dark or pale chestnut-brown down the middle. Capsule shorter than the perianth, obovoid, trigonous.—L. picta, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 146; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 295; Raoul, Choix, 40; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zeal. i. 265; Buchen. Monog. Junc. 146. L. subclavata, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xviii. (1886) 276.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Abundant throughout, usually in shaded places. Sea-level to 3500 ft.
Var. Banksiana, Buchen, l.c.—Rather stout, 3–12 in. high or more. Leaves numerous, broad, sometimes ⅓ in. across, almost equalling the stem. Inflorescence congested into a conglobate head. Flowers large, ⅙ in. long.—L. Banksiana, E. Mey. in Linnæa, xxii. (1849) 412. L. picta var. Banksiana, Buchen. Monog. Junc. 147.
Locality?— I am not acquainted with this, which is probably an intermediate form between picta and australasica.
Var. australasica, Buchen. l.c.—Rather stout, 3–12 in. high or more. Leaves flat, coriaceous, ⅛–⅓ in. broad; margins thickened, cartilaginous, conspicuously ciliate. Infloreseence contracted into an ovoid head ¼–¾ in. diam., often with several smaller lateral pedunculated heads. Upper bracts ciliate. Flowers about ⅛ in. long. Perianth-segments lanceolate, acuminate, margins broad, white, membranous, central stripe chestnut-brown or red. Capsule ovoid-trigonous, slightly shorter than the perianth.—L. australasica, Steud. Syn. Pl. Gyp. 294. L. Oldfieldii, Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 68; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 293; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 122.
North and South Islands, Chatham Islands, Stewart Island: Hilly and mountain districts from Taupo southwards, ascending to 4000 ft.
Var. crinita, Buchen. l.c.—Stout, strict, 3–14 in. high. Leaves numerous, flat or involute, 1/12–1/4 in. broad; margins thickened, densely and conspicuously ciliate. Inflorescence contracted into a compact ovoid head, sometimes with 1–3 smaller lateral peduncled ones. Lower bracts long, ciliate, involucrate; upper membranous, lacerate and densely ciliate. Flowers 1/10 in. long. Perianth segments lanceolate, long-acuminate, dark chestnut-brown, sometimes almost black. Capsule almost equalling the perianth.—L. crinita, Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 84, t. 48; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 293; Buchen. Monog. Junc. 151.
Auckland and Campbell Islands, Macquarie Island: Sea-level to 1400 ft. The typical form appears to be confined to the above localities, but intermediates between it and australasica and migrata are not uncommon in the mountains of the South Island.
​L. campestris is widely distributed in temperate and montane districts in most parts of the world, and is everywhere excessively variable. In arranging the New Zealand forms I have mainly followed Buchenau's paper on "Luzula campestris and its Allied Species," printed in Oesterr. Bot. Zeitsch. 1898. It is necessary for the student to bear in mind that the characters given for the varieties are those of prominent forms only, that intermediates between all of them are plentiful, and that aberrant states are not uncommon.
7. L. racemosa, Desv. Journ. Bot. i. (1808) 162; var. Traversii, Buchen. Monog. Junc. 133.—Stems densely tufted, very variable in size, usually from 6 to 12 in., but sometimes attaining 18 in. and occasionally dwarfed to 4 in., slender, often attenuate above. Leaves radical and a few cauline, all much shorter than the stem, 1–6 in. long, rarely more, 1/10–1/4 in. broad at the base and from thence gradually tapering upwards, apex subulate, not obtuse as in the forms of L. campestris; margins flat or involute, ciliate with long hairs. Inflorescence terminal, erect or nodding, compound, of several short and dense spikes either all congested into an ovoid head, or the lower 1 to 3 distinct and sometimes peduncled. Lower bracts foliaceous, often overtopping the inflorescence; upper membranous, with very broad white margins and apices, densely ciliate with long hairs. Flowers small, 1/10 long. Perianth-segments equal, or the outer slightly longer, lanceolate, awned, pale-chestnut with white and silvery margins. Stamens 3, rarely more. Capsule equalling the perianth, ovoid-globose, trigonous, mucronate, pale- or dark-chestnut, sometimes almost black. Seeds oblong-ovoid, ferruginous.
Var. ulophylla, Buchen. in Oesterr. Bot. Zeitsch. 1898.—Stems small, slender, 3–6 in. high, rarely more. Leaves very narrow, straight or curved, convolute, margins and backs densely covered with a scurfy coating of white woolly hairs. Heads ovoid-globose or cylindrical, small, ¼–½ in. long; bracts pale. Capsule dark-chestnut.
South Island: Nelson—Mountains above the Wairau Gorge, T.F.C. Marlborough—Mount Mouatt, Kirk! Canterbury—Brouen River Basin and Upper Waimakariri, Kirk! T.F.C., Cockayne! Mount Cook district, T.F.C. Otago—Mount Pisa, Mount Kyeburn, Old Man Range, Mount Ida, Petrie! Mount Earnslaw, Cockayne! Var. ulophylla: Clarence Valley, T.F.C.; Castle Hill, Cockayne! Lake Wanaka, Petrie! 2000–5500 ft. December–February.
Probably an abundant mountain-plant, but it is often confounded with varieties of L. campestris with congested inflorescence. From all these it can be readily distinguished by the tapering leaves ending in an acute subulate point quite unlike the obtuse and often swollen leaf-lip of L. campestris; also by the spiciform clusters, and by the broad bracts with white membranous margins densely ciliate with long hairs. Buchenau's var. ulophylla appears to me to be quite as distinct as many species generally accepted by authors, and I am not acquainted with any intermediate forms. But the genus is so overloaded with synonymy that I leave it as it is for the present. The typical state of the species extends along the Andes from Mexico to Chili.