Plate 1G2.— SCUTELLARIA NOV^-ZELANDIJ^. 



Family LABIATE.] ^Genus SCUTELLARIA, Linn. 



Scutellaria novs-zelandiae, Hook. /. Fl. Nov. Zel. u, 335 ; Handh. N.Z. Fl. 226 : Cheesem 

 Man. N.Z. Fl. 568. 



Scutellaria is one of the most distinct of the genera of Labiatce, easily recognized 

 by the posticous hp of the calyx bearing on its back a hollow scale orpouch, both 

 hp and scale being deciduous in fruit, the anticous lip alone being persistent. In 

 addition to this strongly marked character, the flowers are not arranged in verticils, 

 but are opposite ; and the ovary is seated on a distinct stalk. The single New 

 Zealand species is endemic, but is closely allied to the Australian S. hwnilis. 



S. novai-zelandicB was originally discovered by Mr. J. C. Bidwill at Foxhill, 

 m the Nelson Provincial District, about the year 1845. It was subsequentlv collected 

 in the same locahty by Sir D. Monro and other botanists, and was also found in 

 various stations near Nelson by Mr. W. T. L. Travers, Mr. J. Buchanan, Mr. T. Kirk, 

 Mr. F. G. Gibbs, and myself. At a later date Mr. J. H. Macmahou observed it in 

 the Pelorus and Tinline Valleys, on the Marlborough side of the Dun Mountain Range. 

 As these are the only localities of which there is any certain knowledge, it appears 

 that the plant is confined to a district of less than twenty-five miles radius from the 

 Town of Nelson. It descends almost to sea-level in the Maitai Valley, and I have not 

 seen it at a higher altitude than about 500 ft. It should perhaps be mentioned 

 that in 1877 Mr. J. B. Armstrong recorded it from Banks Peninsula, and that a 

 few years earlier Mr. Purdie reported its existence on FlagstafE Hill, near Dunedin. 

 But no subsequent observer has seen it in these localities, and I suspect that the 

 records are due to some error of identification. 



S. novcB-zdandice is a slender sparingly branched herb creeping and rooting at 

 the base, but erect or ascending above. It varies much in size : I have seen speci- 

 mens nearly 18 in. high, although the average stature is much less. The leaves 

 are in distant pairs on slender petioles, the blade being J in. to ^ in. long, ovate to 

 broadly oblong or orbicular, and with three to five shallow lobes or crenatures. The 

 flowers are about ^in. long, white, solitary in the axils of the upper leaves, and the 

 corolla is pubescent on the outside. I am not aware that it has ever been tried 

 in cultivation. 



Plate 162. Scutellaria novcB-zekindicB, drawn from specimens collected at Foxiiill, Nelson. 

 Fig. 1 , flower ( x 4) ; 2, section of calyx, passing through the pouch on the posticous lip ( x 6) ; 3, corolla 

 laid open (x 4) ; 4, 1-celled anther (x 12) ; 5, 2-celled anther (x 12) ; 6, fruit (x 3) ; 7, nutlets, with 

 their gynophore ( x 5). 



