slender pedicel, winged above, minutely notched; style scarcely longer than the notch.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 37. L. australe, Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. (1882) 381.
South Island: Otago—Usually near the sea; Oamaru, Hampden, Awamoko, Weston, Orepuki, Petrie! Stewart Island: Dog Island; Ruapuke, Kirk! November–January.
A distinct but highly variable species, easily recognised by the minute orbicular pods. Mr. Kirk's L. australe is a state with the stems more erect than usual, and with more numerous cauline leaves.
7. L. Kawarau, Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvii. (1885) 270.—Diœcious, erect or diffuse, glabrous or slightly hairy, 6–12 in. high or more. Stems leafy, much branched above. Radical leaves numerous, 3–5 in. long, linear-oblong, pinnatifid or pinnate with a broad rachis; leaflets rather distant, linear, entire or with 1–3 linear lobes on the upper edge, rarely on the lower as well; petioles sheathing at the base. Cauline leaves many, lower like the radical but sessile, gradually passing into the uppermost, which are narrow-linear, entire. Racemes very numerous at the ends of the branches, forming a much-branched panicle. Flowers small. Petals apparently wanting in both sexes. Stamens 4–6. Fruiting pedicels spreading or ascending, rather longer than the pods. Pods ovate or ovate-oblong, notched at the apex; style slightly exceeding the notch.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 36.
Var. dubium, Kirk, l.c.—Taller, much more hairy, almost scabrid; branches few, long, lax. Cauline leaves shorter and broader, pinnatifid. Petals present in tue male flowers.
South Island: Otago—Kawarau River, Cromwell, Petrie! Var. dubium: Near Duntroon, Petrie! November–December.
Allied to L. Matau, with which it entirely agrees in the flowers and pods. It differs in the greater size, branched leafy habit and almost glabrous leaves, which are much larger and have long and narrow toothed pinnæ. The var. dubium has a distinct appearance, but barely seems entitled to specific rank.
8. L. Matau, Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xix. (1887) 323.—Diœcious, erect, hoary with short scabrid hairs, 2–5 in. high. Root stout, woody. Stems one or several from the root, stout, somewhat strict, branched above. Radical leaves numerous, coriaceous, scabrid, 1–2 in. long, linear or linear-oblong, deeply pinnatifid or almost pinnate; segments rounded or oblong, rarely linear, entire or lobed on the upper edge. Cauline leaves oblong or ovate, sessile, usually entire. Flowers small, in short and dense racemes at the ends of the branches. Petals wanting in both sexes. Stamens 4. Fruiting pedicels patent or slightly decurved, rather longer than the pods. Pods ovate, not winged, shortly notched above; style short, slightly exceeding the notch.—Kirk, Students Fl. 36.
