dorsal one the largest. Capsule broadly oblong, subcompressed, exceeding the calyx.—Bot. Mag. t. 7338; Armstr. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiii. (1881) 351.
South Island: Not uncommon in subalpine localities throughout. 2500–5500 ft. December–February.
Very closely allied to V. tetragona, from which it can only be distinguished by the more acutely 4-angled branches and rather broader leaves, which are suddenly narrowed into a bluntish cusp or point.
52. V. Hectori, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 212.—A small robust much-branched shrub 6–30 in. high; stem woody, terete, closely ringed by the scars of the fallen leaves; branches terete or very obscurely tetragonous, stout, rigid, erect, ⅛–⅙ in. diam., blackish-brown when dry. Leaves densely imbricated, opposite pairs connate to the middle or higher and forming a closely appressed ring surrounding the branch (sometimes slightly open at the mouth), 110–18 in. long, broader than long, broadly orbicular-oblong, obtuse, concave in front, rounded and polished at the back, not keeled, extremely thick and coriaceous, margins of the younger leaves often ciliolate. Leaves of young plants not seen. Flowers axillary, crowded at the tips of the branchlets, forming small terminal heads, about ¼ in. diam., white. Calyx-segments linear-oblong, obtuse, ciliolate. Corolla-tube about as long as the calyx; lobes oblong, obtuse, dorsal one the largest. Capsule exceeding the calyx, broadly oblong, subcompressed, obtuse.—Bot. Mag. t. 7415; Armstr. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiii. (1881) 352.
South Island: Canterbury—Southern Alps, Haast, Armstrong; Mount Cook district, T. F. C. Otago—Mount Alta, Hector and Buchanan! Mount Tyndall and the Hector Mountains, Petrie! Humboldt Mountains, Cockayne! Mount Earnslaw, H. J. Matthews! 3500–6000 ft. January–March.
Most nearly allied to V. lycopodioides, but recognised without any difficulty by the terete branchlets, and by the leaves being connate to above the middle, and obtuse, not pointed. The much stouter branchlets at once separate it from V. salicornioides and V. Armstrongii.
53. V. coarctata, Cheesem. n. sp.—A small stout much-branched shrub 1–3 ft. high; branches close, spreading; branchlets numerous, rather stout, 112–110 in. diam, terete or obscurely tetragonous, densely clothed with appressed imbricating leaves, blackish when dry. Leaves of mature plants densely imbricating, about 110 in. long, the opposite pairs connate to above the middle into a ring or sheath closely appressed to the branch, obtuse or subacute, thick and coriaceous, smooth and polished on the back; margins usually ciliolate. Leaves of young plants not seen. Flowers ⅕–¼ in. diam., white, from 4 to 8 near the tips of the branchlets, forming small terminal heads; bracts broad, ciliolate. Calyx short; segments oblong, obtuse, ciliolate. Corolla-tube included in the calyx; lobes spreading, the dorsal one the largest. Capsule about ⅙ in. long, nearly twice as long as the calyx, ovoid, obtuse.
