Veronica. | SCROPHULARINE®. 529 
A well-marked plant, the only near ally of which is the following species, 
which may prove to be a form of it. 
48. V. quadrifaria, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxviii. (1896) 
521.—Habit, size, and general appearance of V. tetrasticha, but the 
branchlets are more slender and wiry, about 4, in. diam. with the 
leaves on, tetragonous with the faces flat, not concave. Leaves 
most densely quadrifariously imbricated, opposite pairs very shortly 
connate at the base and forming a ring clasping the branch, closely 
appressed, ;4,-7;in. long, broadly triangular, acute or subacute, 
coriaceous, concave in front, rounded on the back, not keeled; 
margins ciliolate towards the base or throughout their whole length. 
Flowers small, white, ;4,in. diam., arranged in very short axillary 
2-4-flowered spikes, the spikes usually capitate at the tip of the 
branchlets. Calyx 4-partite almost to the base; segments linear- 
oblong, obtuse, ciliolate. Corolla-tube short, equalling the calyx ; 
lobes 4, rounded, spreading. Stamens 2; filaments short. Ovary 
seated in a cupular disc. Capsule twice as long as the calyx, 
oblong-obovoid, compressed, obtuse. — Mitrasacme Cheesemanii, 
Buch. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. (1882) 348, t. 29, f. 2. 
SourH Is~tanp: Nelson— Mount Percival, T. F. C.; Mount Charon, 
Cockayne! Canterbury-- Mount Dobson, 7. #. C. Otago— Mount Alta, 
Buchanan ! 3500-6000 ft. December—March. 
Very near to the preceding, from which it differs in the more slender 
branchlets, which are tetragonous with almost flat sides, not concave; and in 
the smaller leaves, which are more closely appressed, and are broadly triangular 
with straight edges. In /. tetrasticha the leaves are rather suddenly narrowed 
above the broad base, so that the margin is curved, not straight. The flowers 
and capsules are also smaller than in V. tetrasticha. 
49. V. tumida, 7. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxviii. (1896) 
521.— A prostrate or decumbent much-branched plant forming 
broad depressed patches 6-18in. diam. ; branches very numerous, 
obtusely tetragonous, with the leaves on ;4,4,in. diam., black 
when dry. Leaves densely imbricated, opposite pairs connate at 
the base, ~;—,, in. long, broadly ovate-deltoid, tumid, obtuse, 
concave in front, rounded or obtusely keeled at the back, margins 
ciliolate. Flowers in 2-4 flowered abbreviated spikes at the ends of 
the branchlets, small, {-% in. diam., white. Calyx deeply 4-partite : 
segments linear-oblong, obtuse, ciliolate. Corolla-tube short; limb 
with 4 nearly equal spreading oblong obtuse lobes. Stamens 2, 
included ; anthers almost as long as the filaments. Ovary seated 
in a cupular disc. Capsule exceeding the calyx, subcompressed. 
hroadly oblong, obtuse. 
SourH IsLanp : Nelson—Gordon’s Nob and St. Arnaud Mountains, Monro, 
T. F.C. ; Mount Rintoul and Ben Nevis, #’. G. Gibbs ! Mount Starveall, W. H. 
Bryant! Mount Richmond, J. H. Macmahon! Otago—Herb. Buchanan ! 
(exact locality not stated). 3000-5000 ft. December-February. 
