Plate i:3i).— GENTIANA TOWNSONJ. 



Family GENTIANACEiE.] [Genus GENTIANA, Linn. 



Gentiana Townsoni, ('heest'iii. Man. N.Z. Fl. 450. 



Situated on the coast-line of north-west Nelson, and flanking the Papahua and 

 Paparoa Mountains, are long stretches of somewhat dreary swampy plains locally 

 known as " pakihis." Some of these descend almost to sea-level ; others reach a 

 considerable height on the sides of the mountains. Much of their surface is so wet 

 as to form veritable swamps, in which Typha. several species of Cladmm and Carex, 

 Carpha, and other swamp-plants form the chief vegetation. In drier places they 

 are usually covered with Leptospermum, mixed with such plants as Pteris aquUina, 

 Gleichenia circinata, Epacris pauciflora, many orchids, Anagospeima dispermum, 

 Actinotus, and others. It is in this locality that the subject of this plate is 

 commonly found. 



G. Townsoni, which well commemorates its energetic discoverer, must be 

 considered to be one of the most beautiful species of the genus in New Zealand. 

 Speaking of it, Mr. Townson says, " It grows in the most open and exposed 

 situations, and many plants may often be seen clustered together. As several stems 

 generally arise from one root, each crowned with its umbel of large white flowers, a 

 patch of these Gentians forms a veritable beauty-spot upon the uniformly dreary 

 surface of these bog-lands." Its tall slender habit and numerous small ovate- 

 lanceolate or trowel-shaped leaves give it a very different appearance from any of 

 itiL. alliei-'. G. corymhifera is easily distinguished by its stout and almost naked 

 stems, and much longer and proportionately narrower rosulate radical leaves ; 

 while G. montana has larger obovate-spathulate radical leaves, and broadly ovate 

 cauline leaves, cordate at the base. 



So far I have seen no specimens but Mr. Townson's, from which this plate has 

 been prepared. But so little is known of the vegetation of Westland that I can 

 entertain no doubt that it extends southwards along the western side of the South 

 Island. Mr. N. E. Brown informs me that specimens collected by Lyall are in the 

 Kew Herbarium ; probably these would be obtained in the Sounds of the south- 

 west coast of Otago. 



Plate 139. Gentiana Tuwiisuni, drawn from specimens collected by Mi'. W. Townson in the 

 vicinity of Westpoit. Fig. 1, calyx laid open, showing ovary (x3): 2, corolla laid open (x3); 

 3 and 4, front and back view of anther taken from the bud ( x 6) ; 5, anther taken from a fully 

 expanded flower (x 6). 



