A very distinct and beautiful plant, excellently figured in the "Flora Antarctica." As pointed out by Hooker, abnormal flowers are frequently seen in which the corolla is 6-lobed, with 3 stamens and a 3-celled ovary. Other flowers have a 3-lobed corolla, but with the usual number of stamens and a 2-celled ovary.
65. V. erecta, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxviii. (1896) 517.—A sparingly branched shrub 6–18 in. high; branches few, slender, strict, erect, terete, sparingly leafy, puberulous above. Leaves in distant pairs, spreading, sessile, ¾–1 in. long, oblong-lanceolate or obovate-lanceolace, acute, entire or obscurely toothed, subcoriaceous, margins minutely puberulous or ciliate. Racemes 2–6, solitary in the axils of the upper leaves, 3–4 in. long, strict, erect, naked below; rhachis pubescent, as are the bracts and short pedicels. Flowers about ⅕ in. diam., often obscurely fascicled or whorled. Calyx deeply 4-partite; segments ovate-oblong, acute, ciliate. Corolla -tube short and broad, shorter than the large spreading limb; lobes 4, broadly ovate, acute. Stamens long, exserted; anthers large, broadly ovate. Immature capsule exceeding the calyx, compressed, oblong, acute.
South Island: Otago—Said to have been collected on Mount Bonpland, but exact locality doubtful.
A species founded on cultivated specimens sent to Mr. Kirk by the late Mr. Martin, of the Fairfield Gardens, near Dunedin. It does not seem to be closely allied to any other New Zealand species, and its strict erect habit and elongated racemes give it a very peculiar appearance. For the present I place it near to V. Hulkeana, but more specimens are required before its exact position can be determined.
66. V. Hulkeana, F. Muell. ex Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 213.—A slender erect laxly branched shrub 1–3 ft. high; branches spreading, sparingly leafy, terete, puberulous above. Leaves in remote pairs, spreading, 1–2 in. long, broadly ovate or oblong-ovate, obtuse or acute, obtusely or acutely coarsely serrate, rather fleshy when fresh, dark-green and shining, petiole ¼–½ in. long. Panicle slender, terminal, much branched, 6–12 in. long by 2–6 in. broad, finely pubescent; branches opposite, the lower ones again compound; bracts minute, 115 in. long, broadly ovate, obtuse, ciliate. Flowers very numerous, small, sessile, ⅕–¼ in. diam., pale-lilac. Calyx rather narrow, 4-partite; segments ovate, obtuse, ciliate. Corolla tube very short; lobes 4, rounded. Stamens 2; anthers broadly ovate, yellow. Capsule small, oblong, obtuse, twice as long as the calyx. Bot. Mag. t. 5484; Armstr. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiii. (1881) 350.
Var. oblonga, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxviii. (1896) 518.—Leaves narrow-oblong, 1–8 in. long including the petiole.
Var. Fairfieldii, T. Kirk, l.c.—Smaller and stouter. Leaves smaller, seldom more than 1 in. long, crenate-dentate, with reddish margins. Panicle shorter and broader. Calyx segments narrower, linear oblong, pubescent.—V. Fairfieldii, Hook. f. Bot. Mag. t. 7323.
