pedicels spreading, ⅓–½ in. long; bracts linear-obovate. Flowers small, ⅙ in. diam. Calyx 4-partite; segments obovate-oblong, obtuse or subacute, enlarging in fruit. Corolla-tube very short; limb with 4 rounded lobes. Stamens shorter than the corollalobes. Capsule transversly oblong or orbicular, compressed, slightly emarginate, altogether included in the enlarged calyx.—Benth. Fl. Austral. iv. 510. V. elongata, Benth. in D.C. Prodr. x. 478; Hook, f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 197; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 216. V. calycina, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 382 (not of R. Br.).
North Island.—In lowland situations from the North Cape to the Thames River, rare and local.
81. V. Anagallis, Linn. Sp. Plant. 12.—Stems stout, succulent, glabrous, decumbent at the base, then erect, simple or sparingly branched, 6–18 in. high. Leaves sessile and semiamplexicaul, 1–3 in. long, oblong-lanceolate or linear-oblong, subacute or obtuse, often cordate at the base, more or less serrate or almost entire, membranous when dry. Racemes numerous towards the ends of the branches, axillary, suberect, 4–10 in. long, many-flowered; bracts small, linear or lanceolate. Flowers small, ⅕–¼ in. diam., pale-blue or almost white. Calyx 4-partite; segments ovateoblong, obtuse or subacute. Corolla-tube very short; limb 4-lobed, spreading. Capsule broadly oblong, notched, shorter than the calyx.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 197; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 216.
North Island: Hawke's Bay, watery places, Colenso!
This has not been observed since its original discovery by Mr. Colenso, more than fifty years ago. Although a widely distributed plant in the Northern Hemisphere it is unknown in the southern, except in South Africa, where it is supposed to be an introduction, and in New Zealand. Possibly Mr. Colenso's specimens were introduced as well; but if so, it is remarkable that the plant should have apparently disappeared.
82. V. Muelleri, Buch. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. (1882) 351, t. 32.—Stems prostrate or rooting, branched, 6–18 in. long, putting up numerous short suberect branchlets ½–2 in. long. Leaves crowded towards the tips of the branchlets, spreading, petioled, ⅕–⅓ in. long, linear-obovate to ovate-oblong, obtuse, entire or with 1 or 2 coarse notches on each side, coriaceous, glabrous or the petioles ciliate on the margins. Flowers solitary and axillary at the tips of the branches, almost hidden by the leaves, sessile or shortly pedicelled, ⅓ in. diam. Calyx 4-partite; segments linear-obovate, obtuse. Corolla-tube rather long, exceedmg the calyx; limb spreading, 4-lobed. Stamens shorter than the corolla-lobes. Capsule equalling the calyx or rather shorter than it, transversely oblong, didymous.
South Island: Otago—Hector's Col, Mount Aspiring Range, alt. 5000ft., Buchanan and McKay!
