Plate 145.— MYOSOTIS CONCINNA. 



Family BORACrlNACE^.] [Genus MYOSOTLS, Linn. 



Myosotis concinna, Chresem. in Ti;n,s A'.Z. h,st. xvii (1885). 23.5; Cher.sem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 170. 



Myosotis concinna. which is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful species of 

 the genus, was discovered by myself in January, 1882, on the northern slopes of 

 Mount Owen, a broad and massive many-peaked mountain situated between the 

 Buller Valley and the" headwaters of the Wangapeka River. I reached the locality 

 by followmg up the Rolling River from its junction with the Wangapeka, and then 

 gradually ascendmg, first through Fayus forest, and then through the densest of 

 subalpme scrub, m which Senecio laxifolius was more abundant than in any other 

 locality known to me, to the open elevated rocky country surrounding the higher 

 peaks of the mountain. In this locality, which varies in altitude from' 3,500 ft. to 

 5,000 ft., M. concinna was a very abundant and conspicuous species, its bright-yellow 

 flowers showing in every nook and corner, and filling the surrounding air with their 

 fragrance. Associated with it were many other interesting alpine plants, among 

 which may be mentioned Ranunculus insignis and R. geranitfolius, Ligusticum 

 ptkferum, Act-phylla Lyalhi var. crenulata, Brachycnme Sinclatrii, Cebnisia incana 

 Craspedia umflora var. lanata (very plentiful). Colohanthus canaliculatus, and 

 roranthera alpina. 



In 1902 Mr. W. Townson examined the southern slopes of Mount Owen or the 

 opposite side to that visited by me. He also found M. concinna exceedin^lv 

 plentiful, remarking that it and Epilohium vernicosum formed the most strikfn'o- 

 feature in the vegetation of the mountain. So far as I am aware, the typical form 

 of the species has been found nowhere but on Mount Owen ; but in 1886 I o-athered 

 a plant on Mount Arthur which agrees in habit, foliage, and shape of corolla but 

 differs in the flowers being white with a yellow eye, and not pure yellow as is the 

 case with the type. 



M concinna is a remarkably distinct species, especially in its floral characters 

 Its radical leaves are numerous and tufted, lanceolate-spathulate in shape and 

 densely clothed with fine silky appressed hairs. Springing from among the leaves 

 are numerous ascending or erect flowering-stem.^; 6 in. to 15 in. high, each furnished 

 with many-flowered simple or forked racemes of bright-yellow sweet-scented flowers 

 i he corolla can be described as funnel-shaped with a short tube and large deeply 

 divided hmb. The stamens have slender elongated filaments, so that the anthers 

 are exserted beyond the corolla-lobes. 



The beauty and fragrance of the flowers suggest its cultivation in gardens 

 but so far no attempt has been made to introduce it, probably on account of the 

 somewhat difficult nature of its habitats. M. macrantha is an even still more 

 beautiful plant, with large, deliciously fragrant brownish-orange flowers, with a 

 long tube and small limb. I would also commend to the notice of horticulturists 

 the Auckland Islands 31. capttata. with its azure-blue flowers ; the white-flowered 

 M. alb'ida and M. explanata ; and also M. petiolata, which has white flowers with 

 a yellow eye. 



Plate 145. Myosotis coHcmmi, drawn from specimens collected on Mount Owen Velson at an 

 altitude of 4^00 ft. Fig. 1, flower {x3); 2, section of calyx, showing ovary and stvle ' ( x 3) • 

 S, corolla laid open (x 3) ; 4 and 5, front and back view of anthers (x 6) • 6, fruit (x 41 • 7 sinHe 

 nutlet ( X 4). \ / < > \ > , i, siugie 



