Gentianea. | FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. 179 
I have examined a large series of magnificent specimens of this beautiful plant, collected in various parts of 
the Southern and Middle Island by Dr. Lyall, varying in size from 2 inches to 2 fect high, and am satisfied that all 
are referable to one species, which is far too nearly allied to G. montana. It is to be distinguished from the last- 
named plant by very frequently, if not constantly, having a perennial root ; by its robust habit, larger flowers, and 
broader leaves and calycine and corolla lobes. Sometimes it is wholly prostrate, with a very much divided root, 
that gives off numerous decumbent branches, 2-4 inches long, sparingly leafy, with long, petioled, narrow, spathu- 
late leaves, and single terminal one-flowered pedicels. This probably grows in shaded moist places. Another form 
has stout short stems from the divided root, with dense masses of broad, spathulate, thick, radical leaves, spread 
out like a star, and simple bracteate scapes, with a large solitary flower on each. Of this state there is a specimen 
from Forster himself in Herb. Hook., labelled G. saxosa, but differing widely from the specimens he describes from. 
The third form, which I have called pleurogynoides, has generally erect, robust stems, simple or branched, with of 
without spreading tufted leaves at the base, and bears umbels of three to ten beautiful large flowers, their pedicels 
surrounded at the base by several sessile blunt leaves, forming a general involucre. This is a common Tasmanian 
state, found chiefly on the mountains, and has been called G. pleurogynoides by Mr. Grisebach in his monograph of 
the Order Gentianee. All intermediate states between these are too common to admit of a doubt of their being but 
one species, and both the erect and decumbent states of any, when slender, are hardly distinguishable from @. mon- 
tana. Mr. Bidwill, who sends beautiful specimens of this from the Warrau Pass, where it covers the ground in 
masses, with flowers an inch broad, finds it impossible to sort its various forms into varieties with tangible charac- 
ters, or to distinguish it from G. montana. 
Gen. II. SEBAA, Soland. 
Calyx 4-5-partitus ; lobis carinatis v. alatis. Corolla 4-5-fida, marcescens. Stamina exserta. Anthere 
longitudinaliter dehiscentes, defloratee subtortæ, apice calloso recurvo. Stigmata 2. Capsule valve mar- 
gine inflexe. Semina plurima axi centrali libero affixa. 
S. ovata is a slender herb, also found in Tasmania, with annual root and erect four-angled stem, 2—6 inches 
high, simple or dichotomously branched above, with a flower placed at each fork. Leaves 2 inch long, sessile, very 
broadly ovate, blunt. Flowers few, clustered at the tops of the branches, i inch long, yellow. Calyx lobes ovato- 
lanceolate, acuminate, keeled. Corolla with a straight tube, and five oblong blunt lobes, that are twisted after the 
flower is closed. Stamens five, with very short filaments, placed at the mouth of the corolla. Anthers slightly 
twisted after flowering. Ovary two-celled, with two straight styles and small capitate stigmas. Capsule of two 
linear, concave, pointed valves, that separate from a central axis bearing numerous seeds.—This is one of a 
small genus, chiefly native of the Cape of Good Hope. (Named in memory of Albert Seba, an Amsterdam apothe- 
cary and author.) 
1. Sebeea ovata, Br.; caule simplici superne ramoso gracili 4-gono, foliis parvis late ovatis obtusis, 
calycis lobis carinatis, floribus 5-fidis. Br. Prodr. S. gracilis, 4. Cunn. Prodr. Exacum ovatum, Lab. 
Fl. Nov. Holl. v. 1. p. 88. t. 52. 
Haz. Northern and Middle Islands. Bogs at Hokianga, R. Cunningham. Grassy places, Ahuriri, 
Colenso. Port Cooper, Lyall. 
Cunningham considers his specimens of this plant to be different from Brown's 8. ovata ; but after a careful 
comparison with Tasmanian ones, I find no difference at all in habit, flower, capsule, or seed : the leaves are a little 
smaller than in the generality of Tasmanian specimens, and the nerves are never strongly marked. 
