Page:Manual of the New Zealand Flora.djvu/446

406 Var. microphylla, Hook, f. l.c.—Small, prostrate, sparingly branched. Leaves ⅙–⅓ in. long, ovate to linear-lanceolate.—Pernettya macroscigma, ''Col. in Trans. NZ. Inst.'' xxi. (1889) 92.

The first two varieties abundant throughout, the second two in mountain districts from the East Cape southwards. Sea-level to 6000 ft.

A variable plant in most of its characters, particularly in the fruiting calyx, which may be greatly enlarged, highly coloured, and succulent, or may remain dry and unaltered. Both succulent and dry calyces may be found on the same branch. The variety depressa is also found on the Tasmanian mountains.

2. G. perplexa, ''T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst.'' xxix. (1897) 538 (name only).—A small suberect or prostrate bush 1–3 ft. high, rarely more; branches flexuous, often much and closely interlaced; bark dark red-brown; branchlets clothed with short white pubescence intermixed with long erect or spreading yellow-brown bristles. Leaves alternate, spreading, very shortly petiolate, ¼–½ in. long, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate or linear, often curved, acute or acuminate, serrate, the teeth usually bristle-pointed, thick and coriaceous, quite glabrous. Flowers small, solitary and axillary, often crowded at the ends of the branches; peduncles short, bracteolate, curved. Calyx-lobes minutely ciliolate. Corolla broadly urceolate, $1⁄10$ in. long. Capsule usually included in the enlarged and fleshy calyx-lobes, forming a berry-like fruit ½ in. in diam., but frequently the calyx remains dry and unchanged.—G. antipoda var. ciliata, ''Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 161; Handb. N.Z. Fl.'' 175.

3. G. rupestris, R. Br. Prodr. 559.—An erect or more rarely procumbent or prostrate much-branched shrub varying in height from a few inches to 3 or 4 ft., sometimes attaining 5 to 6 ft. or more; branches stout, glabrous or slightly pubescent, occasionally setose. Leaves close-set, alternate, shortly petiolate, very variable in size and shape, ⅓–2 in. long, from oblong or elliptic-lanceolate to oblong or oblong-ovate or almost orbicular, acute or obtuse, crenulate or serrulate, very thick and coriaceous, reticulated on both surfaces, often shining above, quite glabrous. Racemes axillary and terminal, often crowded towards the ends of the branches, simple or branched, few- or many-flowered, ¼–2 in. long; pedicels longer or shorter than the bracteoles. Flowers white. Calyx-lobes ovate, acute, ciliolate, usually remaining unaltered in fruit, although baccate specimens are not uncommon.—''A. Cunn. Precur. n. 418; Raoul, Choix, 44; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 161, t. 42; Handb.''