Var. hydrocotyloides, Kirk, Students' Fl. 41.—Much smaller, sparingly pilose. Leaves 16–14 in. diam. Peduncles short.—V. hydrocotyloides, Armstr. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. (1882) 360.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Not uncommon from Whangarei southwards. Var. hydrocotyloides: Otago, Petrie! Stewart Island, Stack! Petrie! Kirk! Altitudinal range from sea-level to 4000ft. November–February.
The long creeping stems, small leaves, and fimbriate bracts and stipules distinguish this from the two following. It produces numerous reduced or cleistogamic flowers late in summer and autumn.
2. V. Lyallii, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 16.—Perfectly glabrous. Stems slender, shorter than in V. filicaulis, ascending at the tips. Leaves ⅓–1 in. diam., broadly ovate or rounded, deeply cordate at the base, obtuse or subacute, obscurely crenate or nearly entire; petioles variable in length, 2–6 in. Stipules linear, entire. Peduncles very slender, variable in length, 3–7 in. Bracts usually above the middle, linear, entire. Flowers ½ in. diam., white streaked with lilac and yellow.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 41. V. Cunninghamii var. gracilis, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 16. Erpetion spathulatum, A. Cunn. Prodr. n. 622 (non G. Don.).
North and South Islands: Not uncommon from Kaitaia and Hokianga southwards; ascending to 4000 ft. on the Mount Arthur Plateau, Nelson. October–January.
Usually a larger plant than the preceding, with the stem not so decidedly creeping, larger leaves and longer petioles, and with the stipules and bracts entire, not lacerate. The cordate leaves separate it from V. Cunninghamii.
3. V. Cunninghamii, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 16.—Glabrous except the petioles, which are occasionally pubescent. Rootstock often somewhat woody, creeping below, often branched above. Leaves tufted at the top of the rootstock, or on short branches springing from it, ½–1 in. diam., triangular-ovate or ovate-oblong, truncate at the base or narrowed into the petiole, obtuse or sub-acute, obscurely crenate; petioles short or long. Stipules adnate at the base to the petiole, usually entire, acute. Peduncles slender, exceeding the leaves; bracts linear, acute. Flowers ⅓–⅔ in. diam., white, usually streaked with lilac and yellow. Sepals linear-oblong. Lateral petals bearded.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 16; Kirk, Students' Fl. 41. V. perexigua, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi. (1884) 326.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island: From Rotorua and the East Cape southwards; abundant in many places, especially in the mountains. Chatham Islands: Buchanan (Trans. N.Z. Inst. vii. 334). Altitudinal range from sea-level to 5000 ft. October–January. Also found in Tasmania.
The short stems and tufted leaves, which are usually either truncate at the base or narrowed into the petioles, are the best distinguishing characters of this plant. It varies greatly in size; lowland specimens, growing among scrub, &c., sometimes have the petioles 8–9 in. long, and the peduncles of corresponding size, while alpine specimens are frequently much depauperated. The flowers of the latter, however, are usually larger than those of the lowland forms.
