PLATE 20.—COLOBANTHUS ACICULARIS ann 
COLOBANTHUS CANALICULATUS. 
Famity CARYOPHYLLACE:.] [Genus COLOBANTHUS, Bart. 
Colobanthus acicularis, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 25; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 69. 
Colobanthus canaliculatus, 7. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvii (1895), 357 ; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. 
Fl. 69. 
The genus Colobanthus possesses considerable interest for New Zealand 
botanists, on account of its peculiar southern distribution, the species being confined 
to New Zealand, Victoria and Tasmania, the Kerguelen and South Georgia group 
of islands, and Fuegia and Andine South America. It thus constitutes one of those 
genera sometimes styled “ antarctic,” in the belief that they are the remnants of a 
flora that once occupied the now barren Antarctic continent, or inhabited a northern 
extension of it, which, it is supposed, may have stretched as far as New Zealand. 
Colobanthus acicularis, the first of the two species illustrated in this plate, was 
originally discovered by Mr. W. T. L. Travers in dry rocky places in the Wairau 
Gorge, in the centre of the Nelson Provincial District, and was quickly found to be 
plentiful in similar stations throughout the South Island, its altitudinal range 
extending from 1,500 ft. to nearly 6,000 ft. Although varying greatly in size, its 
other characters are for the most part fairly constant, so that in most cases it can 
be recognized at a glance. The robust stem and branches, the long leaves with 
remarkably long acicular points, the nearly sessile flowers, and the long sepals much 
exceeding the capsule, are peculiarities which readily distinguish it from all the 
other species. 
Colobanthus canaliculatus was originally described by Mr. Kirk from specimens 
collected by Mr. John Buchanan in some locality in Central Otago. In this district 
it has not since been refound, although repeatedly searched for during the last 
ten years. In 1892 I found it to be abundant on the debris of limestone rocks on 
the northern side of Mount Owen, Nelson, at an altitude of 4,000 ft., and it has since 
been observed in the same locality by Mr. W. Townson. So far as I am aware, 
this is the only station for the plant of which we possess precise knowledge. 
Apparently it is a very distinct species, well marked by the short spreading chaffy 
leaves, which are either acute or very shortly acicular, by the short stout lateral 
peduncles, and by the broadly ovate sepals. 
PuaTE 20a. Colobanthus acicularis, drawn from specimens collected on Jollie’s Pass, Hanmer 
district, at an altitude of 3,000 ft. Fig. 1, summit of branch, with flowers (x 4); 2, leaf, showing 
the long acicular points (x 8); 3, single flower, with bracts (x 6); 4, single flower, with one sepal 
removed (x6); 5, two stamens (x 6); 6, ovary (x6); 7, section of ovary, showing seeds (x 6); 
8, seed (x 8). 
Prater 208. Colobanthus canaliculatus, drawn from specimens collected on the northern face of 
Mount Owen, Nelson, at an altitude of 4,000 ft. Fig. 9, summit of branch, with flower (x 4); 10, leaf, 
showing the short acicular tip (x 8); 11, flower, showing the broadly ovate sepals (x6); 12 and 
13, anthers, front and back view (enlarged) ; 14, ovary (enlarged); 15, section of ovary (enlarged). 
