| 446 |
Gentiana.—Since the arrangement given in the body of this work was printed I have received copious suites of specimens from Messrs. Townson, Macmahon, Gibbs, H. J. Matthews, and others. These by no means simplify the task of providing good distinctive characters for the species, but rather increase it, so many of the specimens being intermediate forms. This is particularly the case with the species constituting the section D of the conspectus given on page 447, the whole of which appear to pass into one another by imperceptible gradations. |
| 448 |
2 bis. G. gracilifolia, Cheesem. n. sp. — Perennial, dark-green, much branched at the base, forming compact sward-like patches 2–6 in. diam. or more. Flowering-stems numerous, 3–6 in. high, decumbent at the base, erect above. Leaves numerous, crowded at the base of the stem or on short erect branches, ⅓–⅔ in. long, 1/10–⅛ in. broad, narrow linear-spathulate or linear-lanceolate, acute, sessile or the lower ones narrowed into short petioles, rather thick and coriaceous, dark-green and shining when fresh, often blackish-brown when dry. Cauline leaves 2–4 distant opposite pairs, similar to the radical. Flowers 2–4 to each stem, ⅓–½ in. diam., pure-white. Calyx divided from two-thirds to three-quarters of the way down; lobes lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, acute or acuminate. Corolla campanulate, divided two-thirds of the way down; lobes oblong-obovate, obtuse or subacute. Stamens about half as long as the corolla. Ovary linear-oblong. |
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South Island: Nelson—Peaty localities by the margin of small tarns on the Mount Arthur Plateau, alt. 3500–4500 ft., T. F. C., F. G. Gibbs! February–March. |
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This appears to be a perfectly distinct species, perhaps more nearly allied to G. Townsoni than to any other, but easily distinguished by the much smaller size, by often forming a compact sward, by the smaller narrower and much more numerous leaves, and by the smaller and fewer flowers.page 1145 |
| 451 |
G. montana. — Brunner Range, alt. 3000–4000 ft., W. Townson! Mr. Gibbs also sends specimens of a closely allied, plant, with slightly longer and narrower cauline leaves, from Mount Lockett and Mount Peel. |
| 452 |
9 bis. G. vernicosa, Cheesem. n. sp. — Perennial; root long, slender, bearing at the top a compact tuft of radical leaves, and 1–5 stout flowering-stems 4–9 in. high, which are decumbent at the base but erect above. Radical leaves numerous, crowded, ½–1¼ in. long, ⅙–⅓ in. broad, narrow oblong-spathulate or linear-oblong, obtuse or subacute, narrowed to a broad sessile base, dark-green, polished and shining, somewhat concave above, thick and coriaceous, especially towards the tip, but becoming thinner at the base. Cauline leaves many towards the base of the flowering-stems, in distant pairs above, similar to the radical but smaller and more acute. Flowers large, white, ½–¾ in. diam., in 2–7-flowered terminal umbels or corymbose cymes. Calyx half the length of the corolla; lobes lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, acute. Corolla divided three-quarters of the way down or more; lobes obovate-oblong, rounded at the tip. Ovary linear-oblong. |
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South Island: Nelson — Mount Lcckett (to the north of Mount Arthur), alt. 3500–4500 ft., F. G. Gibbs! February–March. |
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I have only three good specimens of this plant, but they all agree in the thick and coriaceous polished and shining leaves, which present quite a different appearance from those of any other species known to me. But it is possible that it may vary into G. bellidifolia. |
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