11. P. Lyallii, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 222.—A small stout prostrate or suberect much-branched shrub 6–18 in. high; branches sometimes long, spreading or trailing, at other times shorter, ascending or erect; the younger ones more or less silky-pilose with appressed hairs, rarely almost glabrous; bark dark red-brown. Leaves usually close-set, erect or patent, ⅙–½ in. long, linear-oblong or elliptic-oblong or lanceolate, acute or acuminate, concave, nerveless, glabrous above or nearly so, silky with long hairs beneath or almost glabrate; floral leaves similar to the others. Flowers in 4–12-flowered heads at the tips of the branches, white. Perianth about ¼ in. long, densely silky-villous; lobes ovate-oblong, obtuse. Athers short, oblong.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 245.
Var. sericea.—Usually erect. Branchlets and leaves on both surfaces densely clothed with long silky appressed hairs, the leaves usually larger and broader.
North Island: Ruahine Range, Colenso! Tryon! A. Hamilton! Var. sericea: Ruahine Range, Colenso! Hawke's Bay, A. Hamilton! South Island, Stewart Island: The typical form abundant in mountain districts throughout. Var. sericea: Kurow and other places in the Waitaki Valley, Buchanan! Petrie! Clutha Valley, Petrie! Crown Range, Cardrona, Kirk! Usually from 2000 to 4500 ft., but descends to sea-level in the south of Otago and on Stewart Island. December–March.
An exceedingly variable plant. Slender erect forms approach P. virgata, others with smaller almost glabrous leaves seem to pass into P. lævigata, while the extreme state of var. sericea has much of the appearance of P. arenaria. Var. sericea is referred to P. virgata in Kirk's herbarium, but I think it is better placed under P. Lyallii.
12. P. sericeo-villosa, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 245.—A much-branched prostrate shrub, forming compact depressed patches 3–18 in. across, everywhere densely villous with long pale silky hairs; branchlets short, stout, densely leafly. Leaves crowded, closely imbricating, erect, ⅛–¼ in. long, linear-oblong or elliptic-oblong, obtuse or acute, concave, both surfaces villous with long straight hairs, which usually completely conceal the leaf. Flowers in 2–6-flowered heads at the tips of the branches, white. Perianth ⅙–⅕ in. long, densely silky-villous; lobes ovate-oblong, obtuse.
South Island: Marlborough—Monro; Mount Duppa, Macmahon! Nelson—Wairau Mountains, Travers; Jollie's Pass, Haast! T.F.C.; Upper Clarence Valley, T.F.C. Canterbury—Lake Tekapo and Mackenzie Plains, T.F.C. Otago—Waitaki Valley, Hector and Buchanan! Clutha Valley, from Cromwell to Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea, Petrie! 500–3500 ft. December–March.
Differs from P. Lyallii in its more completely prostrate and often densely compacted habit, and in the far more copious covering of long straight silky hairs.
