The V. Colensoi of the Handbook, as already stated, was based upon a mixture consisting of specimens collected on the Ruahine Mountains by Colenso, on V. Menziesii, and two or three other species. If the name is to be retained at all, it should clearly be restricted to Colenso's plant, which Mr. N. E. Brown informs me is identical with that subsequently described by Colenso under the name of V. Hillii. It can be distinguished by the small size, glaucous leaves, slender simple or sparingly branched racemes, narrow acute calyx-segments, and short corolla-tube. The V. Colensoi of the Botanical Magazine (t. 7296) is quite a different plant, but I have seen no specimens, and it does not seem to be known except in cultivation in England.
24. V. rigidula, Cheesem. n. sp.—A small much-branched erect perfectly glabrous shrub 6–24 in. high, rarely more; branches stout, erect, scarred, almost black, leafy at the tips. Leaves close-set, almost imbricating, suberect or rarely spreading, petiolate, ½–¾ in. long, ⅙–¼ in. broad, linear-oblong or narrow obovate-oblong, acute or subacute, very thick and coriaceous, rigid, dark-green and concave above, glaucous and keeled by the thick and prominent midrib beneath; margins thickened, entire. Racemes or spikes 2–4 near the tips of the branches, about equalling the leaves, usually branched, dense-flowered; rhachis stout, pubescent; pedicels wanting or the lower flowers very shortly stalked; bracts ovateoblong, obtuse, almost as long as the calyx. Flowers small, white, ⅕ in. diam. Calyx 4-partite; segments oblong, obtuse, ciliolate. Corolla-tube tubular, nearly twice as long as the calyx; limb rather short, not equalling the tube; lobes subequal, oblong, obtuse. Stamens slightly exceeding the corolla. Capsule small, ⅛–⅙ in. long, ovoid-oblong, acute or subacute, barely twice as long as the calyx.
South Island: Marlborough—Pelorus and Rai Valleys (on rocks by the side of streams), Mount Duppa, Maungatapu, J. H. Macmahon! Nelson—Wairau Gorge, T.F.C. Sea-level to 4000 ft. December–February.
Apparently a very distinct little plant. It has somewhat of the habit and general appearance of the V. Colensoi of this work (V. Hillii, Colenso), but in reality differs altogether in the smaller and closer-set petiolate suberect keeled leaves, shorter and stouter dense-flowered racemes, smaller flowers, obtuse calyx-segments, and longer corolla-tube with a shorter limb.
25. V. rupicola, Cheesem. n. sp.—An erect sparingly branched shrub 1–4 ft. high; branches stout, erect or spreading, glabrous or the younger ones faintly bifariously pubescent. Leaves not very close-set, spreading, petiolate, ½–1 in. long, ¼–⅓ in. broad, linear-oblong or elliptic-oblong or linear-obovate, obtuse or subacute, gradually narrowed into the rather long petiole, flat or slightly concave, coriaceous, glaucous when fresh, quite entire, midrib prominent beneath. Racemes or spikes lateral or towards the tips of the branches, much exceeding the leaves, 1–2 in. long, peduncled, usually trichotomous, very rarely simple; rhachis stout, strict,
