flat elsewhere; sheaths 1½–3 in. long, broader than the blade, deeply grooved, more or less covered with thin cottony tomentum. Scape 12–18 in. long, stout, densely cottony; bracts numerous, narrow-linear, the lower often 2–3 in. long. Head 1½ in. diam. or more; involucral bracts subulate-lanceolate, acuminate, chaffy and rather rigid, glabrate or the outer somewhat cottony, often recurved. Achene hispid.
South Island: Otago—Clinton Saddle, Lake Te Anau, Petrie! Humboldt Mountains, H. J. Matthews!
A remarkable plant, of which I have seen only very imperfect specimens. The straight dagger-shaped leaves, with their two longitudinal plaits and rigid acuminate points, are quite unlike those of any other species.
28. C. Lyallii, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 133.—Stem short, stout, crowned with a dense tuft of crowded radiating leaves. Leaves 9–18 in. long or more, ¼–⅓ in. broad, narrow-ensiform, straight or slightly curved, gradually tapering from the base to the rigid almost pungent tip, rigidly coriaceous, glabrous and smooth and even above, beneath strongly grooved and clothed with thin appressed tomentum or almost glabrous; margins quite entire; sheaths broader than the blade, thin, grooved, clothed with snowwhite tomentum. Scapes 1 or several, longer or shorter than the leaves, rather slender, white with cottony tomentum; bracts linear. Head 1–2 in. diam.; involucral bracts subulate-lanceolate, rigid, glabrate or the margins cottony, tips recurved. Rays rather short, narrow. Achene linear, hispidulous, longer than the pappus.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 290.
Var. pseudo-Lyallii.—Leaves not so rigid, grooved and plaited above, beneath clothed with thick soft tomentum, which usually conceals both veins and midrib. Heads more cottony. Achene nearly glabrous.
South Island: Common in mountainous districts throughout. 1000–4500 ft. December–January.
One of the most distinct species of the genus, easily recognised by the narrow tapering rigid leaves, with almost pungent tips.
29. C. viscosa, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 133.—More or less viscid in all its parts. Stem branched; branches short, stout, with the old sheaths 1–1½ in. diam. Leaves numerous, crowded, erect, 3–5 in. long, ¼ in. broad, linear, obtuse or acute, viscid, very thick and coriaceous, rigid, longitudinally grooved on both surfaces, glabrous or hoary above, beneath white or grey with appressed tomentum; sheaths about 1 in. long, broader than the blade, glabrous, brown. Scapes usually several, much longer than the leaves, 6–12 in. long, stout, pubescent and viscid; bracts numerous, linear. Head 1½ in. diam.; involucral bracts numerous, linearsubulate, densely woolly and tomentose, viscid. Rays short, spreading. Achene linear, silky.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 290.
