Pratr 101—GNAPHALIUM SUBRIGIDUM. 
Famity COMPOSIT |] [Genus GNAPHALIUM, Linn. 
Gnaphalium subrigidum, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvii (1885), 245; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. 
Fl. 324. 
The subject of this plate was originally discovered by Mr. Colenso, prior to 
1850, on the banks of the Manawatu River and on the Ruahine Mountains. 
Sir J. D. Hooker, in his “Flora Nove Zelandizx ” (vol. i, p. 138), treated it as 
a form of the widely diffused G. Keriense, simply giving it the varietal name of 
linifolia, and this view has been followed by most botanists. But, as I have 
pointed out in the Manual, it differs from G. Keriense in the more rigid erect 
and bushy habit, much narrower, stiff, and coriaceous leaves with recurved 
margins, and in the capillary pedicels. It recedes from G. Keriense quite as 
much as G. Lyallii and G. trinerve do, and for the sake of consistency should 
be considered as distinct, unless the extreme course be taken of merging the four 
species into one. The name of G. subrigidum was first used by Mr. Colenso in 
1885 for a plant gathered by Mr. Hill on the Ruataniwha Plains, which he took 
to be distinct from the original var. linifolia of Hooker. But I have failed to 
find any difference whatever between the two plants, and believe that they are 
absolutely identical. 
So far as I am aware, G. subrigidum attains its northern limit on the 
Karangahake Cliffs, on Lake Taupo, where it is remarkably plentiful, associated 
with Senecio Banksii var. angustatus. From thence it stretches southwards on 
both flanks of the Ruahine Mountains, and on the western side of the Tararua 
Range. But it is by no means generally distributed, and is best regarded as 
a somewhat rare and local plant. In the South Island it is only known from 
Giles’s Creek, near Westport, where it was observed by Mr. Townson a few 
years ago. 
Pirate 101. Gnaphalium subrigidum, drawn from specimens collected on the Karangahake Cliffs, 
Lake Taupo. Fig. 1, leaf (x2); 2, section of flower-head and receptacle, the florets being 
removed (x4); 3, one of the involucral bracts (x 6); 4, outer floret (x 12); 5, style-branches 
of same (x 15); 6, inner (or hermaphrodite) floret of the dise (x 12); 7, pappus-hair from same 
(x 20); 8, anthers (x 20); 9, style-branches (x 15). 
