An exceedingly variable plant. Forster's type, judging from the description given by A. Richard, is a rather small-leaved state, with lanceolate leaves 1–2 in. long; and according to Mr. N. E. Brown corresponds to the var. minor of the "Flora Novæ-Zealandiæ." But it passes insensibly into a much more luxuriant state, with leaves sometimes over 4 in. long, and with longer racemes. This again varies into var. lanceolata, Mr. Kirk's V. irrigans being about half-way between the two. Var. diffusa is also connected by numerous intermediates.
75. V. Lyallii, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 196.— Stems slender, prostrate and rooting, much and diffusely branched, 3–18 in. long, more rarely suberect from a prostrate base; branches terete, usually bifariously pubescent, sometimes conspicuously so, rarely almost glabrous. Leaves shortly petioled, spreading, ¼–½ in. long, broadly ovate or almost orbicular to oblong-ovate, obtuse or subacute, with 2 or 3 coarse blunt serratures on each side, thick and coriaceous, glabrous, often reddish on the midrib beneath and on the petiole. Racemes several, few- or many-flowered, on slender erect peduncles 2–6 in. long usually springing from near the ends of the branches but sometimes lateral, glabrous or more or less pubescent; pedicels slender, the lowest ½ in. long or more. Flowers ⅓ in. diam., white with pink veins. Calyx deeply 4-partite; segments ovate-oblong, acute, margins ciliolate. Corolla-tube very short; limb broad, spreading, with 4 rounded lobes. Stamens shorter than the corollalobes. Capsule broadly obovate-oblong, turgid, 2-lobed or emarginate, exceeding the calyx.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 215; Armstr. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiii. (1881) 349.
Var. suberecta, Cheesem.—Stem woody at the base; branches slender, wiry, erect or suberect. Leaves usually narrower, oblong or obovate-oblong, with coarser and more numerous teeth, sometimes almost lobed.—V. Lyallii var. β. Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 196.
North Island: Ruahine and Tararua Mountains, apparently not common. South Island: Hilly or mountainous districts, abundant, especially on the west side of the Island. Sea-level to 4500 ft. November–March.
A very variable little plant, but on the whole recognised without much difficulty by the prostrate and diffusely branched mode of growth, small broad glabrous leaves, and slender many-ilowered racemes of rather large flowers. V. catarractæ is a much taller and more erect plant, with much longer and narrower leaves and larger flowers. V. Bidwillii differs in its smaller leaves and longer strict racemes. V. Olseni is smaller and stouter, with more of the habit of V. Hookeriana, and has more pubescent racemes and fewer flowers; while V. Hookeriana is separated by the stouter and more rigid habit, pubescent leaves, and much stouter glandular-pubescent raceme with fewer white flowers. The V. Lyallii of the Botanical Magazine (t. 6456) seems to me to be quife different from the true Lyallii in the greater size, erect habit, larger ovate acute leaves, and larger flowers, and probably represents a distinct species intermediate between V. Lyallii and V. catarractæ, but I have seen no specimens.
76. V. Bidwillii, Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 814.—Stems slender, prostrate and rooting, much branched, woody at the base, 3–12 in. long; branches creeping, often matted, glabrous or pubescent. Leaves rather distant, shortly petioled or almost sessile, minute, 110–14 in.
