Page:Transactions NZ Institute Volume 14.djvu/379

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Although this plant has long been known to occur in the Auckland Islands, where it was originally discovered by the Antarctic Expedition in 1840, there is no recorded instance of its having been collected in New Zealand proper. In January, 1881, I found it growing in some profusion in clefts of rocks on the slopes of Mount Peel, Nelson, at an altitude of about 5,000 feet. A good description and excellent plate will be found in the "Flora Antarctica."

Small, stout, dark green and shining, very aromatic, 2–6 inches high. Rootstock stout, covered with pale chaffy scales. Leaves numerous, all radical, 2–4 inches long, petiole half the length, broadly deltoid in outline, bipinnate; segments broadly cuneate, cut down nearly to the base into 3–5 sharp flat spreading lobes, ⅛–⅕ inch long, or again pinnate. Peduncles usually shorter than the leaves, naked or with one small leaflet. Umbels small, ½–1 inch in diameter. Flowers white or pinkish. Ripe fruit not seen. 