Of this I have only seen two very indifierent specimens in Mr. Buchanan's herbarium, both long past flower. It is clearly a very distinct species, and, if Mr. Buchanan's plate is correct, differs widely from all the New Zealand species belonging to the section with didymous capsules in the elongated tube of the corolla.
83. V. Cheesemanii, Benth. in Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 1366a.—Small, greyish-green, densely tufted, forming rounded cushions 2–5 in. diam., pubescent in all its parts; branches slender, closely compacted. Leaves spreading, ⅛–½ in. long, narrow-obovate, obtuse, coarsely and obtusely toothed or lobed, puberulous on both surfaces, narrowed into a long or short broad petiole. Flowers solitary and axillary, subsessile, small, white, ⅛ in. diam. Calyx deeply 4-partite, segments linear-spathulate, spreading, coarsely toothed towards the tip. Corolla slightly longer than the calyx; tube very short; limb with 4 obovate emarginate lobes. Stamens shorter than the corolla-lobes. Ovary broadly ovoid, hispid. Capsule shorter than the calyx, broadly didymous, slightly compressed, hispid, 4-valved to the base.—Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xv. (1883) 299.
South Island: Nelson—Summit of Gordon's Nob and the Raglan Mountains, T.F.C.; Mount Starveall, F. G. Gibbs! Canterbury—Shingle-slopes near the source of the Otira River, T.F.C., Cockayne! 3500–5500 ft.
A peculiar little plant, with much of the aspect of a small Euphrasia.
84. V. canescens, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. ix. (1877) 503, t. 19.—A small creeping and rooting herb with intricately branched stems 1–4 in. long, often forming broad matted patches, everywhere hispid with greyish-white hairs. Leaves minute, spreading, shortly petioled or subsessile, 112–110 in. long, obtuse, entire, more or less densely clothed on both surfaces with curved hispid hairs. Flowers solitary and axillary, large for the size of the plant, ¼–⅓ in. diam., pale-blue; peduncles short, slender, ¼ in. long, with two hispid bracts below the middle. Calyx 4–5-partite; segments linear-oblong, hispid. Corolla-tube very short; limb spreading, 4-lobed; lobes unequal, oblong, often emarginate. Capsule small, broadly oblong, slightly compressed, retuse, altogether included in the calyx.—Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxviii. (1896) 516.
South Island: Canterbury—Lake Forsyth, Kirk! Lake Ellesmere, Armstrong; Lake Lyndon, Enys! Kirk! T.F.C.; Mackenzie Plains, Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki, T.F.C. Otago—Near Oamaru, Buchanan! central Otago, plentiful, Petrie! Wycliffe Bay, near Dunedin, B. C. Aston! Sea-level to 3000 ft. December–March.
Usually found on the dried-up margins of lakes and pools. It is probably not uncommon in suitable localities on the eastern side of the South Island, but is easily overlooked, except when in flower.
8. OURISIA, Comm.
Perennial herbs, erect or decumbent or more or less prostrate. Leaves opposite, mostly radical, entire or more usually crenate.
