524 SCROPHULARINE. [ Veronica. 
close-set or rather distant, spreading, shortly petiolate, 4-2in. long, 
4tin. broad, oblong-obovate or elliptic-oblong or narrow oblong- 
ovate, subacute or obtuse, coriaceous when dry, almost fleshy when 
fresh, quite glabrous, flat or slightly concave, dark-green with bright- 
red 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, +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. 
SourH Isnanp: Mountains of Nelson, Marlborough, and North Canter- 
bury, not uncommon. 1500-4500 ft. December—February. 
A very beautiful little plant, well marked off from all its allies by the 
polished purplish-black branchlets, almost flat green leaves with red margins, 
shortly pedicellate flowers, small bracts, long corolla-tube, and short limb. 
Mr. Armstrong’s description is by no means good; but there is no question as to 
the identity of the plant. 
40. V. Gibbsii, 7. 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 fallenleaves. Leaves decus- 
sate, close-set, imbricating, erect or spreading, sessile, -3in. long, 
itin. 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 soit white hairs ; 
bracts lanceolate, acute, exceeding the calyx. Flowers 1 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. 
SoutH Istanp: Nelson — Mount Rintoul and Ben Nevis, alt. 3000-4000 ft., 
F.. G. Gibbs ! 
A distinct species, nearest to V. carnosula, but at once separated by the less. 
concave and more acute leaves with conspicuously villous margins, acuminate 
bracts, and narrow acute calyx-segments. 
41. V. carnosula, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 210.—A much- 
branched erect or decumbent woody shrub 6in. to 3ft. high; branches 
stout, spreading, ringed with the scars of the fallenleaves, the younger 
ones pubescent towards the tips. Leaves closely imbricating, 
spreading or erect, sessile, 4-in. long, +2in broad, broadly 
