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Manual of the New Zealand Flora.
8. Ourisia, Comm
8. Ourisia, Comm.
Perennial herbs, erect or decumbent or more or less prostrate. Leaves opposite, mostly radical, entire or more usually crenate.
page 548Flowers axillary and solitary, or racemose or subumbelled on a scapiform peduncle. Calyx 5-lobed or 5-partite. Corolla more or less oblique or curved; tube long or short; lobes 5, spreading, imbricate in the bud, one of the lateral ones on the outside. Stamens 4, didynamous, included; filaments short; anthers reni-form, the cells diverging at the base, confluent at the tip. Ovary 2-celled; style filiform; stigma capitate; ovules numerous in each cell. Capsule 2-celled, turgid or sub-compressed, grooved on each side, loculicidally 2-valved, the placentas attached to the middle of the valves. Seeds numerous; testa loose, reticulate.
A handsome genus of about 20 species, confined to Andine South America, New Zealand, and Tasmania. All the New Zealand species are endemic.
A. Erect or decumbent at the very base. Leaves all radical. (Stems often creeping in o. sessilifolia).
Stout, glabrous or nearly so, 9–24 in. high. Leaves coriaceous, long-petioled. Upper bracts whorled. Flowers ¾–1 in. diam. 1.O. macrocarpa. More slender, pubescent or pilose, 6–24 in. high. Leaves submembranous, long-petioled. Upper bracts whorled. Flowers ½–¾ in. diam. 2.O. macrophylla. Small, slender, pubescent, 2–9 in. high. Leaves submembranous, long-petioled. Upper bracts in pairs, rarely in threes. Flowers ½–⅔ in. diam. 3.O. Colensoi. Stout, most densely glandular-hairy, 2–6 in. high. Leaves obovate, narrowed into short broad petioles. Bracts in pairs. Flowers ¾ in. diam. 4.O. sessilifolia. B. Creeping, often matted or cœspitose. Leaves close-set along the creeping stem, usually distichous.
Glabrous or nearly so. Leaves ¾–1¼ in., ovate-spathulate, thickly coriaceous, crenate. Flowers ¾–1 in. diam. 5. O. Cockayniana. Glabrous or nearly so. Leaves ⅛–⅓ in., obovate-spathulate, thickly coriaceous, entire or with 2–3 deep notches 6. O. cœspitosa. Leaves ⅓–⅔ in., upper surface densely glandular-pubescent. Peduncles and bracts sparingly pubescent 7. O. prorepens. Leaves ¼–¾ in., margins ciliate with long jointed hairs. Peduncles and bracts thickly glandular-pubescent 8. O. glandulosa.
| 1. | O. macrocarpa, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 198.—Stems stout, erect from a shore thick creeping rhizome, 9–24 in. high, purplish below, glabrous or with faint hairy lines decurrent from the bases of the bracts. Radical leaves numerous, on stout petioles 2–6 in. long; blade 1–5 in., ovate-oblong to broadly oblong or orbicular, obtuse or subacute, cuneate at the base or narrowed into the petiole, crenate, dark-green above, paler beneath, very thick and coriaceous, quite glabrous except the margins towards the base, which are ciliate. Flowering-stem very stout. Cauline leaves 1 or 2 pairs, ovate or oblong, almost connate at the base, sessile. Inflorescence of 4–8 superposed whorls of pedicelled flowers. Bracts 3–6 in a whorl, oblong or oblong-lanceolate, coriaceous,
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crenate. Flowers large, ¾–1 in. diam., white; pedicels 1–3 in. long. Calyx deeply 5-partite; segments ⅓ in. long, linear-oblong, obtuse, coriaceous, glabrous or the margins alone ciliate. Corolla-tube short and broad, villous within; lobes obovate, retuse. Capsule ⅓–½ in. long, ovoid-oblong.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 218. O. calycina, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxi. (1889) 97.
South Island: Nelson—Mount Franklin, Park. Canterbury—Arthur's Pass, Kirk! T. F. C.; Ashburton Mountains, T. H. Potts! Mount Cook district, T.F.C. Westland—Kelly's Hill, Rangitaipo, Petrie! Franz Joseph Glacier, Haast. Otago—Sounds of the south-west coast, Lyall, Buchanan! Clinton Valley, Petrie! Sea-level to 3500 ft. November–January. The finest species of the genus. It is allied to the following, but is easily separated by the much stouter and more coriaceous habit, by being nearly glabrous, and by the larger flowers and capsules. |
| 2. | O. macrophylla, Hook. Ic. Plant, t. 545, 546.—Erect from a short stout decumbent rhizome, 6–24 in. high, more or less pubescent or pilose with soft spreading hairs, rarely almost glabrous. Radical leaves variable in size and shape, on long petioles; petioles 1–6 in. long, stout or slender, sheathing at the base; blade 1–5 in., ovate or ovate-oblong to orbicular-oblong, obtuse, oblique and cordate or cuneate at the base, crenate, rather thin and membranous, sparsely pubescent or almost glabrous. Flowering-stem erect, rather stout or slender. Cauline leaves 1 or rarely 2 pairs, ovate, sessile. Inflorescence of 3–7 superposed whorls of pedicellate flowers, in small varieties sometimes reduced to a few-flowered terminal umbel. Bracts 3–8 in a whorl, linear-oblong or linear-obovate to linear, crenate. Flowers large, ½–¾ in. diam., white or white with purplish streaks; pedicels ½–2 in. long, slender, erect. Calyx deeply 5-partite; segments ¼ in. long, lanceolate or linear, glandular-hairy. Corolla-tube slightly curved, villous within; lobes obovate, retuse. Capsule ¼ in. long, ovoid-oblong, turgid, membranous.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 197; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 218. O. robusta, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvii. (1886) 246.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Not uncommon in damp mountainous localities from Moehau (Cape Colville) southwards. Sea level to 4500 ft. November–January. In its fully developed state this is an exceedingly handsome plant. It is perhaps nowhere more abundant than on Mount Egmont, where it was originally discovered by Dieffenbach. |
| 3. | O. Colensoi, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 218.—Rhizome slender, creeping; stems erect, 2–9 in. high, pilose with soft spreading hairs. Leaves all radical, on slender petioles ½–1 in. long; blade about the same length, oblong or ovate-oblong, obtuse, subcordate or cuneate at the base, crenate, rather membranous, sparsely glandular - hairy on both surfaces or almost glabrous. Flowering-stem or scape 1–8-flowered; bracts in pairs or rarely in
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threes, linear-oblong, crenate. Flowers ½ in. diam., white; pedicels ¼–1 in. long. Calyx 5-partite; segments linear, glandular-pubescent. Corolla-tube short, curved; lobes obovate, retuse. Capsule broadly oblong, turgid.
North and South Islands: Mountainous districts from Lake Taupo and the Ruahine Mountains southwards. 1500–3500 ft. December–January. Probably only a reduced state of O. macrophylla. |
| 4. | O. sessilifolia, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 218.—Rhizome stout or slender, creeping and rooting, branched, glandular-hairy above. Leaves all radical, spreading and appressed to the surface of the ground, 1–2 in. long, broadly ovate- or obovate-spathulate, obtuse, suddenly narrowed into broad short petioles, crenate, scarcely coriaceous, pale-green, upper surface and margins densely villous with glandular hairs, under-surface not so thickly clothed but rarely glabrate. Peduncle stout, 2–6 in. high, 2–8-flowered, most densely villous, as are the bracts, pedicels, and calyces. Bracts obovate or oblong, crenate; pedicels short, stout. Flowers large, ¾ in. diam., white shading into purple at the base. Calyx ⅓ in. long, 5-partite; segments linear-oblong, obtuse. Corolla-tube broad; lobes large, rounded, retuse at the tip. Capsule ovate-oblong, not seen quite ripe.
South Island: Marlborough—Kaikoura Mountains, Buchanan! Nelson—Mount Buckland, W. Townson! Canterbury, Westland, and Otago—Not uncommon on the higher mountains of the dividing-range. Stewart Island: Summit of Mount Anglem, Kirk! 3500–6500 ft. December–February. This can hardly be described as erect, the leafy part of the stem being sometimes elongated and creeping. There seems to be two forms—one large and stout, very densely villous and with large flowers; the other smaller, with darker green leaves which are not so hairy, and with fewer smaller flowers. |
| 5. | O. Cockayniana, Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxix. (1897) 426.—Forming large matted patches. Stems 3–6 in. long or more, branched, rather stout, creeping and rooting, glabrous or nearly so. Leaves in close-set opposite pairs, spreading and recurved,¾–1¼ in. long, ovate or ovate-spathulate, obtuse, suddenly narrowed into rather long sheathing petioles, crenate, bright-green above, often purplish below, coriaceous, glabrous or the margins of the petioles ciliate. Peduncles stout, erect, purplish, 3–6 in. high, 3–6-flowered, glabrous or nearly so. Bracts rather large, narrow obovate-spathulate, crenate, margins sometimes ciliate towards the base; pedicels slender, 1–1½ in. long. Flowers large, ¾–1 in. diam., white. Calyx ⅓ in. long, 5-partite; segments oblong, obtuse. Corolla-tube broad, rather longer than the calyx; lobes broadly oblong, retuse. Ripe capsules not seen.
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South Island: Canterbury—Arthur's Pass and source of the Poulter River, Cockayne! Westland—Source of the Otira, Kelly's Hill, Mount Alexander, Cockayne! Otago—Cosmos Peaks, Lake Wakatipu, H. J. Matthews! 3000–4500 ft. December–January. Allied to O. cœspitosa, but distinguished by the larger size, much larger ovate-spathulate long-petioled leaves, and larger flowers. |
| 6. | O. cæspitosa, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 198.—Forming broad matted patches. Stems often much branched, 2–6 in. long or more, creeping and rooting, stout or rather slender, leafy, glabrous or sparingly pilose or tomentose; branches short, ascending. Leaves close-set, spreading and recurved, usually distichous, ⅙–⅓ in. long, obovate-spathulate, obtuse, narrowed into a short broad sheathing petiole or almost sessile, coriaceous or almost fleshy, bright-green, glabrous or the margins of the petioles ciliate, entire or more usually with 1–3 deep notches or crenatures. Peduncles strict, erect, 1–3 in. long, 1–5-flowered, glabrous, as are the bracts, pedicels, and calyces. Bracts 1 or 2 pairs, similar to the leaves; pedicels slender. Flowers ½–⅔ in. diam., white. Calyx ¼ in. long, 5-partite; segments oblong or linear-oblong, obtuse, often dilated at the tip. Corolla-tube broad, rather longer than the calyx; lobes broad, rounded. Capsule ⅕ in. long, ovate-oblong.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 219.
Var. gracilis, Hook. f. l.c. 738.—Much more slender. Leaves smaller, 1/10–⅙ in. long. Peduncles slender, 1–2-flowered; bracts small. Flowers smaller, ⅓–½ in. diam. Calyx-segments linear-oblong. North Island: Summit of Mount Hikurangi, Adams and Petrie! Rua-hine Mountains, Colenso! Petrie! Tararua Mountains, T. P. Arnold! W. Townson! South Island: Not uncommon in mountainous localities from Nelson to Otago. Stewart Island: Summit of Mount Anglem, Kirk! 3000–6500 ft. December–February. A pretty little plant, easily recognised by the matted habit, small bright-green almost glabrous leaves, and glabrous peduncle, bracts, and calyces. |
| 7. | O. prorepens, Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxv. (1893) 272.—Stems rather slender, branched, creeping and rooting, 2–4 in. long, glandular-hairy. Leaves close-set, spreading, distichous, ⅓–⅔ in. long, obovate, rounded at the tip, narrowed into a broad thin petiole at the base, crenate, densely glandular-pilose above, almost glabrate with the veins conspicuous beneath. Peduncles erect, 2–4 in. high, sparingly glandular-pubescent, 3–6-flowered. Bracts 1 or 2 pairs, similar to the leaves, nearly glabrous; pedicels slender. Flowers large, ¾ in. diam., white. Calyx about ¼ in. long, 5-partite; segments oblong, obtuse, sparingly glandular-pubescent. Corolla-tube longer than the calyx; lobes broad, rounded. Ripe capsules not seen.
South Island: Otago—Mount Bonpland, Petrie! Mount Kyeburn, H. J. Matthews! 4000–5000 ft. page 552A puzzling plant, agreeing in some of its characters with O. sessilifolia, O. glandulosa, and O. cœspitosa, but which cannot be satisfactorily placed with any of the three. |
| 8. | O. glandulosa, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 219.—Forming broad patches. Stems stout, branched, creeping and rooting, glabrous or nearly so, 2–6 in, long. Leaves close-set, imbricating, usually distichous, spreading or recurved, ¼–¾ in. long, obovate-spathulate, rounded at the tip, gradually narrowed into a short broad petiole or sessile, entire or obscurely crenate, thick and coriaceous, margins densely ciliate with long jointed hairs, upper surface glandular-pilose towards the tip, undex-surface glabrous, veined. Peduncles stout, erect, 1–3 in. long, 1–6-flowered, thickly covered with spreading glandular hairs, as are the bracts, pedicels, and calyces. Bracts 1 to 3 pairs, similar to the leaves; pedicels slender. Flowers ½–¾ in. diam., white. Calyx ¼–⅓ in. long, 5-partite; segments oblong, obtuse. Corolla-tube short and broad; lobes obovate, rounded at the tip. Capsule nearly ⅓ in. long, ovoid, acute, equalling the calyx-segments.
South Island: Otago—Mount Alta, Buchanan! Kurow Mountains, Dunstan Mountains, Mount Cardrona, Mount St. Bathan's, Petrie! 3500–6000 ft. November–January. |