close-set or rather distant, spreading, shortly petiolate, ⅓–¾ in. long, ⅕–⅓ in. broad, oblong-obovate or elliptic-oblong or narrow oblongovate, subacute or obtuse, coriaceous when dry, almost fleshy when fresh, quite glabrous, flat or slightly concave, dark-green with brightred margins. Racemes 2–4 near the tips of the branches, equalling the leaves or slightly longer than them, shortly peduncled, dense-flowered; rhachis pubescent; pedicels very short, sometimes almost wanting; bracts small, much shorter than the calyx. Flowers white, ¼ in. diam. Calyx deeply 4-partite; segments ovate, acute, margins minutely ciliolate. Corolla-tube twice as long as the calyx or rather longer; limb 4-lobed; lobes broadly oblong, obtuse, the anterior one narrower. Capsule ovate, acute, compressed, glabrous, twice as long as the calyx.
South Island: Mountains of Nelson, Marlborough, and North Canterbury, not uncommon. 1500–4500 ft. December–February.
A very beautiful little plant, well marked off from all its allies by the polished purplish-black branchlets, almost flat green leaves with red margins, shortly pedicellate flowers, small bracts, long corolla-tube, and short limb. Mr. Armstrong's description is by no means good; but there is no question as to the identity of the plant.
40. V. Gibbsii, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxviii. (1896) 524.—A sparingly branched shrub 9–18 in. high; branches as stout as a goose-quill, ringed with the scars of the fallen leaves. Leaves decussate, close-set, imbricating, erect or spreading, sessile, ⅓–¾ in. long, ¼–½ in. broad, ovate or ovate-oblong, acute or obtuse, coriaceous, glaucous, often tinged with purplish-red, glabrous except the margins, which are fringed with long soft white hairs. Spikes 2–4 near the tips of the branches, peduncled, longer than the leaves, dense-flowered; rhachis and bracts villous with soft white hairs; bracts lanceolate, acute, exceeding the calyx. Flowers ⅕ in. diam., white, sessile or the lower ones very shortly pedicelled. Calyx 4-partite; segments lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acute, margins villous. Corolla-tube narrow, about twice as long as the calyx; limb 4-lobed; lobes ovate, acute. Style glabrous or sparingly villous near the base. Capsule narrow-ovate, acute, compressed, about twice as long as the calyx.
South Island: Nelson—Mount Rintoul and Ben Nevis, alt. 3000–4000 ft., F. G. Gibbs!
A distinct species, nearest to V. carnosula, but at once separated by the less concave and more acute leaves with conspicuously villous margins, acuminate bracts, and narrow acute calyx-segments.
41. V. carnosula, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 210.—A much-branched erect or decumbent woody shrub 6 in. to 3 ft. high; branches stout, spreading, ringed with the scars of the fallen leaves, the younger ones pubescent towards the tips. Leaves closely imbricating, spreading or erect, sessile, ⅓–¾ in. long, ¼–⅔ in broad, broadly
