Platk 1:}7. GENTIANA GRACILIFOLIA. 



Family (IENTIANACK.-I^:.] [Uenus (4ENT1ANA, Linn. 



Gentiana gracilifolia, Clinsru,. M,ni. X.Z. Fl. II II. 



The Now Zealand Gentians form a very beautiful and attractive group of plants. 

 Those who have wandered over the alpine valleys and slopes of the southern portion 

 of the Dominion, and have seen the dazzling display of flowers in such species as 

 G. Gorymhifera, G, Townsoni, G. montana, G. patula, G. hellidifolia, and G. cerinu, 

 will readily admit that among the montane herbaceous plants of the Dominion 

 there are few genera which present such a peculiarly charming and graceful appear- 

 ance. It is true that as a rule the flowers are white, as is the case with most New 

 Zealand alpines, and never show the deep intense blue which lends such a fascination 

 to many of the northern species ; yet even then our species have many special 

 attractions of their own, and will always claim the admiration of any observer of 

 nature. 



G. gracili/olia, although not an unattrac^tive plant, has not the large flowers of 

 several of its allies. It was first observed by myself on the Mount Arthur Plateau, 

 Nelson, in January, 1881, and again in 1887, but on both occasions my visit was 

 too early in the season to permit me to obtain fully expanded flowers. In the 

 autumn of 1905. however, Mr. F. G. Gibbs examined the locality at my request, and 

 was successful in securing an ample supply of specimens, from which the accom- 

 panying plate has been prepared. So far, I am not aware that it has been found in 

 any other locality ; but it probably extends northwards along the Mount Arthur 

 Range to the high mountainous country at the back of Collingwood. The altitude 

 at which my specimens were gathered was a little under 4,000 ft. 



On the Mount Arthur Plateau G. gracilifolia occurs in peaty localities by the 

 margins of small tarns, in situations so wet that water can be squeezed out of 

 the peat in which the plant grows. It is associated with such species as Carex 

 Gaudichaudiana and G. echinata, Oreobolus pumilio, Scirpus aucklandicus, Centro- 

 lepis viridis, Bulhinella Hookeri, Herpolirion novcB-zelandiw, Cyathodes empetrifolia, 

 Dacrydium Bidwillii and D. Jaxifolium, &c. Unlike most of the New Zealand 

 species, it is much branched and densely leafy at the base, forming compact sward- 

 like patches 4 in. to 6 in. in diameter. The leaves are dark green when fresh, but 

 blackish-brown when dried, uniform in shape and size, and about |in. to fin. long. 

 There are 2 to 4 pairs of cauline leaves, and 2 to 4 flowers to each stem; the corolla 

 being pure white, and about \ in. to | in. diameter. 



As a species G. gracilifolia is perhaps more nearly allied to G. Townsoni than to 

 any other, but can be readily distinguished by its much smaller size and by often 

 forming a compact sward, by the smaller and narrower leaves, and by the much 

 smaller and fewer flowers. 



Plate 137. GeuliuiKi i/inrilifolid. driiwii Iroiii specimens gathered by Mr. F. U Giblj.s on the 

 Mount Arthur Plateau, NelsDU, at an altitude of nearly 4,000 ft. Fig. 1. leaf (x 2) ; 2, base of leaf, 

 .showing scale-like appendages (x 6) ; 3, calyx sjjread open, witli ovary (x 2) ; 4, corolla laid open 

 (x 2) ; .5 and 6, front and back view of anthers from a fully exjjanded flower (x 8) ; 7, anther from a 

 bud(x8). 



