Cunn. Precur. n. 427; Raoul, Choix, 45; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 154; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 166; Berggr. in Minnesk. Fisiog. Sallsk. Lund. (1877) n. viii. 9, t. 2, f. 20. Phyllachne sedifolia, F. Muell. Fragm. viii. 40.
Var. oculata.—Flowers much larger, ½–¾ in., usually with a dark eye.
South Island, Stewart Island: Not uncommon on the higher mountains, chiefly in the central and western districts. Var. oculata: Mount Rochfort, near Westport, W. Townson! Humboldt Mountains, Cockayne! Clinton Saddle, Petrie! Frazer Peaks (Stewart Island), Thomson and Petrie! Altitudinal range, 2000–5000 ft. December–March.
Best distinguished by the short and broad very coriaceous recurved leaves, with a broad and thick cuneate midrib beneath.
2. F. Bidwillii, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 155.—Stems 2–8 in. long, rather stout, usually branched above, decumbent or rooting below, lower part naked and scarred, often reddish, upper portion leafy. Leaves numerous, close-set, spreading and often recurved, ¼–½ in. long, obovate or linear-obovate to linear-oblong, obtuse or subacute, coriaceous, not shining, green, nerveless above, midrib very indistinct beneath; margins cartilaginous, flat or recurved. Peduncle 2–4 in. long, 1–3-flowered. Flowers much as in F. sedifolia, but smaller, ¼–⅓ in. diam., rarely more. Corolla-lobes shorter and broader, linear glands at the base of the lobes more conspicuous. Epigynous glands subulate. Capsule oblong-clavate.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 167; Berggr. l.c. t. 2, f. 1 to 19. F. truncatella, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xx. (1888) 196. F. major, Col. l.c. xxxi. (1899) 272.
North and South Islands: Not uncommon in mountain districts from Hikurangi, Tongariro, and Mount Egmont to the south of Otago. 2500–6000 ft. December–March.
Closely allied to the preceding, but perhaps sufficiently distinct in the longer and more laxly placed less coriaceous leaves, which have a very indistinct midrib beneath. Berggren's figure is by no means characteristic of the usual state of the species.
3. F. tenella, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 155.—Very closely allied to F. Bidwillii, and probably a mere variety of that plant, but more slender and less branched, with much fewer laxly placed leaves. Leaves erect or spreading, seldom recurved, ¼–½ in. long or more, narrow oblong-obovate, obtuse or subacute, narrowed into a short petiole, dark-green and veinless above, midrib obsolete beneath, hardly coriaceous; margins flat or recurved. Flowers similar to those of F. Bidwillii, but rather narrower. Capsule narrow-clavate.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 167; Berggr. l.c. t. 2, f. 21 to 39.
North and South Islands: Mountain districts from the Ruahine Range southwards; not uncommon. 1500–4500 ft. December–March.
