12. R. Petriensis, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. ix. (1877) 519.—Usually forming laxly branched patches. Stems 2–6 in. long, prostrate or suberect; branches numerous, ascending or erect, viscid, with the leaves 16–15 in. diam. Leaves laxly imbricating, 15–14 in. long, obovate-spathulate; base erect, membranous, loosely cottony; tip spreadmg or recurved, rounded, coriaceous, clothed with densely felted shining tomentum. Heads ¼ in. diam., sessile among the terminal leaves; involucral bracts in 2 series, linear, scarious, obtuse, the inner with short white radiating tips. Florets 30–50; female very slender, filiform, 8–15. Achene glabrous or puberulous. Pappus-hairs thickened at the tips.—Students' Fl. 305.
South Island: Canterbury—Mount Dobson Range, T.F.C. Otago—Mount Ida and Mount St. Bathans, Petrie! 3500–5500 ft. December–January.
A remarkably distinct species, at once recognised by the loosely tufted habit, long slender branches, spreading and recurved leaves, and numerous florets.
13. R. mammillaris, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 150.—Forming hard compact masses similar in size and aspect to those of R. eximia. Branches short, stout, with the leaves quite ¼ in. diam. Leaves most densely packed, imbricated all round the branches in many series, spreading, 112–18 in. long, obovate-cuneate or spathulate, rounded or almost truncate at the tip, membranous, glabrous or nearly so in the lower half, in the upper half clothed on both surfaces with a dense tuft of straight hairs which project just beyond the tip and conceal the leaf. Heads 16–14 in. diam., sunk among the leaves at the tips of the branches; involucral bracts in about 2 series, the inner linear-oblong, scarious, with conspicuous white obtuse or subacute radiating tips. Florets 10–12, the hermaphrodite ones more numerous than the females. Achene clothed with long silky hairs, and with a thickened areole at the base. Pappus-hairs few, rigid, thickened at the tips.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 306.
South Island: Nelson—Mount Starveall, Bryant ("Students' Flora"). Canterbury—Mount Torlesse, Haast (Handbook). Otago—Alps of the Lake district, Buchanan! 4000–6000 ft. Vegetable sheep.
The conspicuous white radiating tips to the inner involucral bracts distinguish this at a glance from R. eximia, but in the absence of flowers it is by no means easy to separate the two species. The leaves of R. mammillaris, however, are shorter and broader, with shorter hairs which do not project so far beyond the tip of the leaf as in R. eximia. The only specimens I have seen are Mr. Buchanan's, which are in full flower, and unmistakable. The Mount Starveall locality is given on the authority of Mr. Kirk, but there are no specimens from thence in his herbarium.
14. R. rubra, Buch. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. (1882) 350, t. 30, f. 2.—Forming hard compact masses 6–12 in. diam. and 4–8 in. high; branches with the leaves 16–15 in. diam. Leaves closely
