Page:Manual of the New Zealand Flora.djvu/564

524 close-set or rather distant, spreading, shortly petiolate, ⅓–¾ in. long, ⅕–⅓ in. broad, oblong-obovate or elliptic-oblong or narrow oblongovate, subacute or obtuse, coriaceous when dry, almost fleshy when fresh, quite glabrous, flat or slightly concave, dark-green with brightred margins. Racemes 2–4 near the tips of the branches, equalling the leaves or slightly longer than them, shortly peduncled, dense-flowered; rhachis pubescent; pedicels very short, sometimes almost wanting; bracts small, much shorter than the calyx. Flowers white, ¼ in. diam. Calyx deeply 4-partite; segments ovate, acute, margins minutely ciliolate. Corolla-tube twice as long as the calyx or rather longer; limb 4-lobed; lobes broadly oblong, obtuse, the anterior one narrower. Capsule ovate, acute, compressed, glabrous, twice as long as the calyx.

40. V. Gibbsii, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxviii. (1896) 524.—A sparingly branched shrub 9–18 in. high; branches as stout as a goose-quill, ringed with the scars of the fallen leaves. Leaves decussate, close-set, imbricating, erect or spreading, sessile, ⅓–¾ in. long, ¼–½ in. broad, ovate or ovate-oblong, acute or obtuse, coriaceous, glaucous, often tinged with purplish-red, glabrous except the margins, which are fringed with long soft white hairs. Spikes 2–4 near the tips of the branches, peduncled, longer than the leaves, dense-flowered; rhachis and bracts villous with soft white hairs; bracts lanceolate, acute, exceeding the calyx. Flowers ⅕ in. diam., white, sessile or the lower ones very shortly pedicelled. Calyx 4-partite; segments lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acute, margins villous. Corolla-tube narrow, about twice as long as the calyx; limb 4-lobed; lobes ovate, acute. Style glabrous or sparingly villous near the base. Capsule narrow-ovate, acute, compressed, about twice as long as the calyx.

41. V. carnosula, ''Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl.'' 210.—A much-branched erect or decumbent woody shrub 6 in. to 3 ft. high; branches stout, spreading, ringed with the scars of the fallen leaves, the younger ones pubescent towards the tips. Leaves closely imbricating, spreading or erect, sessile, ⅓–¾ in. long, ¼–⅔ in broad, broadly