South Island: Not uncommon in mountain districts throughout. 1500–4000 ft. January–March.
The usual state of this can be recognised by the slender branches and minute almost quadrifariously arranged leaves, but stouter specimens are difficult to separate from the next species.
14. H. Selago, Benth. and Hook. f. Gen. Plant. ii. 311.—A small much-branched shrub 6–15 in. high; branchlets stout, crowded, with the leaves ⅛–⅙ in. diam. Leaves minute, closely appressed to the branch, densely imbricating in about 5 or 6 series, 110–18 in. long, ovate-triangular, obtuse or subacute, thick and coriaceous in the upper part, membranous below, concave and woolly on the inner face, polished and obtusely keeled on the back. Heads terminal, solitary, sessile, ¼ in. diam.; involucral bracts in 3 series, linear-oblong; the outer obtuse, tomentose at the base; the inner subacute, coriaceous below, with short scarious spreading tips. Florets 35–45; females few, in 1 series. Achene puberulous. Pappus-hairs few, not thickened at the tips.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 312. Ozothamnus Selago, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 332; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 147.
Var. tomentosum.—Leaves oblong, subacute, almost concealed by fulvous woolly tomentum. Heads not seen. Perhaps a distinct species.
South Island: Nelson—Wairau Gorge, T.F.C.; Clarence Valley, Kirk! T.F.C. Marlborough—Kaikoura Mountains, Monro, Buchanan! Awatere Valley, Kirk. Canterbury—Mount Torlesse, Carrington; Rangitata, Armstrong. Var. tomentosum: Mount Dobson, T.F.C. 2000–4500 ft. December–January.
Very closely allied to H. microphyllum, and only to be distinguished by the stouter branches, 6-ranked leaves, larger heads, and more numerous florets. Intermediates which might almost be referred to either species are not infrequently seen.
15. H. coralloides, Benth. and Hook. f. Gen. Plant. ii. 311.—A short stout much-branched shrub 4–12 in. high, hard and woody below; branches spreading, cylindrical, ⅓ in. diam., densely tomentose between the leaves, which resemble tubercles on their surface. Leaves closely appressed to the branch, imbricated in many series, ⅕–¼ in. long, oblong, obtuse, very thick and coriaceous towards the tip, membranous below, inner face concave and densely clothed with long woolly tomentum, back convex or obscurely keeled, glabrous and polished. Heads ¼–⅓ in. diam., terminal, solitary, sunk amongst the uppermost leaves; involucral bracts in about 3 series, linear-oblong, rigid and cartilaginous at the base; tips thinner, scarious, often recurved. Florets numerous; female few, in one series. Achene pubescent. Pappus-hairs few, stout, slightly thickened above.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 312. Ozothamnus coralloides, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 332; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 147.
