mature specimens, is simply a state with more acute leaves and strict suberect racemes. It is frequently named V. Traversii in gardens, but is altogether unlike what I take to be the typical state of that species.
18. V. gracillima, Cheesem. n. sp.—A much-branched glabrous shrub; branches spreading, terete. Leaves spreading, sessile or nearly so, 1–2½ in. long, ⅕–⅓ in. broad, linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, gradually tapering to an acute or acuminate apex, flat, coriaceous, glabrous or puberulous on the midrib above. Eacemes numerous towards the tips of the branches, exceeding the leaves, 3–5 in. long, slender; rhachis, pedicels, and bracts puberulous; pedicels slender, longer or shorter than the calyx. Flowers rather densely placed, large, ⅕–¼ in. diam. by almost ⅓ in. long. Calyx 4-partite; segments oblong-ovate, subacute or obtuse, ciliolate. Corolla-tube funnel-shaped, shorter than the limb and often barely exceeding the calyx; limb large, 4-lobed; dorsal and lateral lobes about equal, oblong, obtuse; anterior lobe narrow, linear-oblong, acute. Capsule ⅕ in. long, broadly oblong, acute, compressed, glabrous, more than double the length of the calyx.—V. ligustrifolia var. gracillima, Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxviii. (1896) 527.
South Island: Nelson—Abundant in the vicinity of Westport, Dr. Gaze! W. Townson!
This differs from V. acutiflora in the larger size, longer and more dense-flowered racemes, and especially in the short obtuse or subacute calyx-segments, which are altogether unlike the lanceolate acute or acuminate calyx-segments of acutiflora. It agrees with acutiflora in the short corolla-tube and large deeply divided limb. From V. parviflora it is at once separated by the larger flowers and differently shaped corolla.
19. V. insularis, Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxix. (1897) 392.—A small erect or decumbent robust shrub 1–3 ft. high; blanches scout, spreading, ringed with the scars of the fallen leaves, pubescent towards the tips. Leaves close-set, spreading or suberect, sessile or very shortly petiolate, ¾–1¼ in. long, ⅓–½ in. broad, elliptic-oblong or oblong-obovate, subacute or obtusely mucronate, quite entire, very coriaceous, flat or slightly keeled, often glaucous, midrib prominent beneath, margins thickened. Racemes corymbosely branched, peduncled, ¾–1½ in. long, many-flowered, in opposite pairs near the tips of the branches; rhachis and pedicels puberulous; bracts rather large. Flowers ¼ in. diam., pale lavender-blue. Calyx short and broad, 4-partite; segments broadly ovate, acute, ciliolate. Corolla-tube broad, about half as long again as the calyx; limb 4-lobed. Capsule ovoid, turgid, acute, rather more than twice as long as the calyx.
North Island: Three Kings Islands, rocky places on both the Great King and the Western King, but not common, T.F.C. November–December.
