Isotoma. | | CAMPANULACEAE. 889 
( La.) | 
1. I. fluviatilis, F. Muell. ex Benth. Fl. Austral. iv (1869) 136.— 
A small slender creeping and rooting perennial herb, often forming matted 
patches, glabrous or slightly pubescent; stems 1-4 in. long. Leaves 
shortly petiolate, }-4in. long, oblong or obovate-oblong to linear-oblong, 
obtuse or subacute, entire or sinuate-dentate, rather thin and membranous. 
Peduncles axillary, 1-flowered, longer than the leaves. Flowers pale-blue, 
1-1in. long. Calyx-lobes subulate-lanceolate. Corolla-tube not split at the 
back, longer than the calyx-lobes ; lobes linear-oblong, spreading. Stamens 
attached to the corolla-tube about the middle; the 2 lower anthers each 
tipped with a rigid bristle. Capsule oblong, tin. long. Seeds smooth.— 
Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 401. Lobelia fluviatilis R. Br. Prodr. 
(1810) 563; Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. i (1860) 238, t. 70. 7 So: ik 
Sourn Isnanp: Nelson—Lower portion of the Buller Valley and marshy places 
near Westport, W. Townson! Mokohinou River, Spencer / Canterbury—Broken River 
basin, J. D. Enys / T. Kirk ! T. F.C. ; Mount Torlesse, Cockayne ; Lake Tekapo, 7. F.C. 
Otago— Macrae’s, Petrie! Lake Hauroko, J. Crosby Smith. Sea-level to 3000 ft. 
December—February. 
Probably an abundant mountain-plant. In the absence of fruit it has been for 
many years confused with small forms of Pratia angulata, both in my own herbarium 
and in Kirk’s and Petrie’s, although the entire corolla-tube and epicorolline stamens 
ought to have been sufficient to indicate its proper position. 
5. WAHLENBERGIA Schrad. | “4 
Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves alternate or rarely opposite. 
Peduncles terminal or axillary, often forming leafy panicles. Flowers 
usually blue or white. Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary; limb 5-partite, 
rarely 3-4- or 6—-7-partite. Corolla regular, campanulate or more or less 
tubular at the base; lobes as many as the divisions of the calyx, valvate. 
Stamens free from the corolla; filaments often dilated at the base; anthers 
oblong, free. Ovary 2-5-celled; ovules numerous; style cylindric ; 
stigma 2-5-fid. Capsule 2—5-celled, opening loculicidally within the calyx- 
lobes with 2-5 valves. Seeds numerous, small. 
A large genus of about 85 species, most numerous in South Africa, but not 
uncommon in other parts of the Southern Hemisphere; rare in the tropics or in 
the North Temperate Zone. 
According to Mr. N. E. Brown (“ Gardeners’ Chronicle,” vol. 54, pp. 316, 336, 
354) the nomenclature of the Australian and New Zealand species of Wahlenbergia is 
in a remarkable state of confusion. For instance, Mr. Brown finds “ that the descrip- 
tion of W. gracilis covers a mixture of at least half a dozen perfectly distinct species.” 
‘This confusion was begun by Robert Brown, who in his ‘ Prodromus Florae Novae- 
Hollandiae,’ p. 561, placed four distinct plants as varieties of Campanula gracilis.” 
Subsequent authors have mostly followed Robert Brown, and the contusion once 
established increased as years went on. With respect to the New Zealand species 
included in Hooker’s Handbook—W. gracilis, W. saxicola, and W. cartilaginea— 
Mr. N. E. Brown remarks “ that of these W. cartilaginea is the only one correctly dealt 
with.” The description of W. gracilis obviously includes a mixture of species ; while 
the real W. saxicola does not occur in New Zealand at all, being strictly confined to 
Tasmania ; our plant being W. albomarginata. 
Mr. N. E. Brown, in a highly informative memoir, then proceeds to give new and 
correct descriptions of most of those species that have been treated in too discursive a 
manner, and also describes two new species. New Zealand botanists will find much of 
value in his memoir, which they should consult when working at the genus. I have 
pleasure in acknowledging my own indebtedness for information derived while pre- 
paring the following account of'the New Zealand species. 
