glabrate or more or less pubescent. Corolla-tube funnel-shaped, from half as long again to twice as long as the calyx; limb 4-lobed, lobes oblong, obtuse. Capsule ⅛–⅕ in. long, broadly ovate, acute, compressed, from half as long again to twice as long as the calyx.—A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 186; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 374; Benth. in. D.C. Prodr. x. 459; Raoul, Choix, 43; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 191; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 207. V. Lindleyana, Paxt. Mag. Bot. xii. (1846) 247. V. Parkinsoniana, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxi. (1889) 97.
Var. stricta, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 191.—Racemes, pedicels, and calyx-segments much more hairy, sometimes almost villous. Capsule smaller, more acute.—V. stricta, Banks and Sol. ex Benth. in D.C. Prodr. x. 459.
Var. gigantea, Cheesem.—Forming a small round-headed tree 15–25 ft. high; trunk distinct. Leaves 2–4 in. long, ⅓–½ in. broad, lanceolate, acute; margins ciliolate. Racemes shorter than the leaves or barely equalling them. Flowers white, ⅙–⅕ in. diam. Corolla-tube very short, hardly longer than the calyx.—V. gigantea, Cockayne in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxxiv. (1902) 319.
Var. Kirkii, Cheesem.—A shrub 6–12 ft. high; branches robust, darkbrown, polished. Leaves smaller, ¾–1½ in. long, oblong or oblong- lanceolate, coriaceous. Racemes 4–8 in. long. Flowers white, ¼ in. diam. Capsule broadly ovate, acute, hoary-pubescent, ⅙ in. long.—V. Kirkii, Armstr. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiii. (1881) 356.
Kermadec Islands: Leaves broader and thinner; racemes shorter than the leaves; calyx-segments almost equalling the capsule—perhaps a distinct species, but specimens very imperfect. North and South Islands, Stewart Island: The typical form and var. stricta abundant throughout. Var. gigantea: Chatham Islands, H. H. Travers, Cox and Cockayne! Var. Kirkii: Canterbury, Upper Rangitata Valley, Armstrong! Sea-level to 3500 ft. Koromiko. December–March.
The most widely distributed of the New Zealand species, and one of the most variable. In addition to the varieties characterized above, the student will find numerous forms which appear to connect it with V. macroura, Dieffenbachii, macrocarpa, ligustrifolia, and others. In cultivation it hybridizes freely with most of the allied species, and several of the hybrids are now common in gardens, especially V. Andersoni (Lindl. & Paxt. Flow. Gard. ii. 3) the result of a cross with V. speciosa.
9. V. rotundata, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxviii. (1896) 530.—A laxly branched shrub 2–6 ft. high; branches terete, glabrous. Leaves spreading, sessile or very shortly petioled, 3–4 in. long by ¾–1¼ in. broad, oblong-lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, subacute, hardly coriaceous, flat, veins obscure. Racemes usually longer than the leaves, 3–6 in. long, 1 in. diam., densely many-flowered; rhachis and pedicels puberulous. Flowers large, ¼ in. diam., violet-purple or lilac. Calyx 4-partite; segments oblong-ovate, acute or subacute. Corolla-tube short and broad, hardly equalling the spreading 4-lobed limb. Stamens long, far exserted. Capsule about ⅕ in. long, suborbicular, compressed, obtuse, about twice as long as the calyx.
