orbicular or ovate-oblong to obovate, obtusely sinuate-deutate, membranous or rather fleshy. Peduncles variable in length, ½–4 in., slender, erect. Flowers ⅓–⅔ in. long, white with purple streaks. Calyx-tube oblong; lobes narrow-triangular. Corolla-tube short, the 3 lower lobes spreading, the 2 upper rather smaller and narrower, ascending. Anthers glabrous, the 2 lower ones tipped with minute bristles. Berry globose or broadly ovoid, ⅓–½ in. diam., purplish-red. Seeds numerous.—Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 157; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 172. Lobelia angulata, Forst. Prod. n. 309; A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 227; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 422; Raoul, Choix, 45. L. littoralis, R. Cunn. ex A. Cunn. Precur. n. 423. L. rugulosa, R. Grah. in Edinb. N. Phil. Journ. (Oct.–Dec., 1829) 186.
Var. arenaria, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 157.—Leaves larger, ½–¾ in. diam., obscurely toothed. Peduncles very short.—P. arenaria, Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 41, t. 29.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Common in damp situations throughout, ascending to 4500ft. Var. arenaria: Auckland Islands and Antipodes Island, also in the extreme south of the South Island. November–February.
2. 'P. perpusilla, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 172.—A minute creeping and rooting perennial herb, forming matted patches 1–4 in. diam.; stems branched, wiry, stout for the size of the plant. Leaves minute, sessile or nearly so, 112–110 in. oblong or oblong-ovate, obtuse or acute, deeply toothed, rather thick and fleshy, wrinkled or pitted when dry, glabrous or more or less clothed with short bristly hairs. Flowers ¼ in. long, on short axillary peduncles or almost sessile. Calyx-tube short, usually hairy; lobes subulate-lanceolate, recurved. Corolla-lobes narrow, almost equal, acute, the 2 upper ones ascending. Anthers glabrous or with a few scattered hairs on the back, the 2 lower tipped with a minute bristle. Fruit not seen.—Lobelia perpusilla, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 158.
North Island: Lower Waikato, H. Carse! Lake Whangape, T. F. C.; outlet of Lake Taupo, Petrie! Lake Waikaremoana, A. Hamilton! Hawke's Bay, Colenso! Bishop Williams! near Opunake, T. Kirk! November–January.
Probably not uncommon, but easily overlooked. I have seen no specimens from the South Island. In the absence of fruit it is impossible to be certain of the genus, but the habit is more that of Pratia than of Lobelia.
3. P. macrodon, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 172.—A small perfectly glabrous rather fleshy creeping and rooting perennial herb; stems stout, branched, 1–4 in. long, often forming matted patches. Leaves very shortly petioled or almost sessile, ⅕–⅓ in. long, broadly obovate or orbicular or broader than long, cuneate at the base, deeply and coarsely 4–8-toothed, thick and coriaceous, quite
