tomentum beneath; margins strongly recurved; sheaths from ⅓ to ½ the length of the blade, rather broad, thin and membranous, cottony on the back. Scape stout, variable in length, 1–10 in. high, cottony or tomentose; bracts few or many, linear-subulate with a broad sheathing base. Head 1 in. diam.; involucral bracts lanceolate - subulate, outer tomentose or cottony, inner nearly glabrous. Eays short. Achene silky.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 289.
South Island: Nelson—Summit of Mount Arthur, T.F.C. Canterbury—Armstrong; Mount Cook district, T.F.C. Otago—Maungatua, Petrie! Stewart Island: Fraser Peaks, Petrie and Thomson! Mount Anglem, Rakiahua, Taylor's Lookout, Kirk! 1000–6000 ft. December–January.
Most of the Stewart Island specimens have longer and narrower leaves, with much more revolute margins, the tomentum is thinner and more appressed, and the scape is longer. Those from Mount Arthur have flatter leaves tapering from the base, the tomentum is buff-coloured and much looser, and the scape is shorter and densely woolly. It is possible that more species than one are included under the description, but the material is not sufficient to prove this.
34. C. laricifolia, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 331.—Stems prostrate or decumbent, much-branched at the base; branches 1–3 in. long, densely leafy. Leaves numerous, crowded, erect or recurved, ⅓–1 m. long, 120 in. broad, very narrow-linear or acerose, pungent, glabrous or slightly silky above, clothed with silvery tomentum beneath; margins strongly recurved; sheaths much broader than the blade, membranous, cottony or almost glabrous. Scape 2–4 in. long, very slender, glabrate or cottony; bracts few, very small. Head ½ in. diam.; involucral bracts few, erect, linear-subulate, cottony. Rays few, short. Achene hispid.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 135; Kirk, Students' Fl. 289.
South Island: Not uncommon in mountain districts throughout. 3000–6000 ft. December–January.
The small size and very narrow acerose leaves are excellent distinguishing characters.
35. C. Hectori, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 135.—Stems prostrate, branched, often woody at the base; branches densely tufted. Leaves numerous, crowded, imbricate, ½–1 in. long, 16–14 in. broad, linear-spatbulate or linear-obovate, obtuse or subacute, gradually narrowed below, coriaceous, silky or clothed with a silvery pellicle above, covered with appressed silky tomentum beneath, margins recurved; sheaths slightly expanded, cottony or nearly glabrous. Scapes stout, 2–4 in. long, tomentose and villous; bracts usually numerous, linear. Heads ¾–1 in. diam.; involucral bracts few, linear, acute, pubescent. Rays rather short, broad. Achene silky.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 291.
