Manual of the New Zealand Flora/Campanulaceæ

by Thomas Frederick Cheeseman

Order XLI. CAMPANULACEÆ.

Herbs or shrubs, usually with milky juice. Leaves alternate, seldom opposite, entire or toothed, rarely lobed or dissected; stipules wanting. Flowers hermaphrodite, rarely unisexual, regular or irregular. Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary; limb 4–6- usually 5-lobed. Corolla gamopetalous, epigynous, regular or irregular and split to the base at the back, 4–6-lobed; lobes valvate, often induplicate. Stamens as many as the corolla-lobes and alternate with them, epigynous or more rarely inserted on the tube of the corolla; anthers free or united into a tube. Ovary inferior, rarely semi-superior, 2–5-celled; style single; stigmatic lobes as many as cells to the ovary; ovules numerous, anatropous, placentas in the inner angles of the cells. Fruit a capsule or berry. Seeds numerous, small; albumen fleshy; embryo straight, axile; radicle next the hilum.

A large order, perhaps most abundant in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, but extending through the tropics, plentiful in South Africa, and present in fair numbers in other portions of the south temperate zone. Genera 55; species about 1000. As a whole, the order is characterized by the presence of acrid and poisonous qualities, and many of the species are highly dangerous. Few possess any economic importance, but many kinds of Campanula and Lobelia are cultivated in gardens for the beauty of their flowers. Of the New Zealand genera, Lobelia and Wahlenbergia are widely distributed; Pratia is confined to the south temperate zone; Isotoma is chiefly Australian; while Colensoa is endemic.

Tribe 1. LOBELIEÆ.
Corolla irregular, 2-lipped. Anthers cohering.
Tall herb. Flowers in racemes. Fruit an indehiscent berry	1. Colensoa.
Creeping herbs. Flowers solitary, axillary. Fruit an indehiscent berry	2. Pratia.
Herbs. Corolla split to the base at tha back. Stamens free from the corolla-tube. Fruit a capsule, 2-valved at the tip	3. Lobelia.
Herbs. Corolla not split to the base; stamens affixed to the tube. Fruit a capsule, 2-valved at the tip	4. Isotoma.
Tribe 2. CAMPANULEÆ.
Corolla regular. Anthers free.
Herbs. Corolla campanulate. Capsule 2–3-valved at the tip	5. Wahlenbergia.

1. COLENSOA, Hook. .

A tall erect leafy herb, often woody at the base. Leaves large, alternate, doubly serrate. Flowers large, in terminal racemes. Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary, limb 5-partite. Corolla oblique, curved, split to the base at the back, 2-lipped; upper lip of 2 linear acute lobes, lower of 3 oblong spreading ones. Stamens exserted; filaments pubescent, free for the greater part of their length; anthers cohering into a tube, pilose on the connective and at the tips. Ovary inferior, 2-celled; ovules numerous, attached to broad peltate placentas; style long; stigma 2-lobed, lobes large, oblong, spreading. Berry globose, thinly fleshy, crowned by the persistent calyx-lobes, indehiscent. Seeds numerous, subglobose, tuberculate.

A genus of a single spscies, endemic in the northern portion of the North Island. It is very closely allied to Pratia, differing chiefly in the tall erect habit, in the racemose inflorescence, and in the large stigmatic lobes.

1. C. physaloides, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 157.—Stem flexuose, smooth, sparingly branched, 1–4 ft. high. Leaves on slender petioles 2–5 in. long; blade 3–7 in. long, ovate, acute, unequally doubly serrate, thin and membranous, conspicuously veined, glabrous or with a few sparse soft hairs. Racemes terminal, 5–15-flowered, shorter than the leaves; pedicels slender, bracteolate at the base. Corolla 1½–2 in. long, pale-blue, pubescent. Berry ½ in. diam., bluish, coriaceous.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 170; Bot. Mag. t. 6864. Lobelia physaloides, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 425; Raoul, Choix, 45; Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 555, 556.

North Island: From the Three Kings Islands and the North Cape southwards to the Bay of Islands, not common, A. Cunningham, Colenso! &c.; Sail Rock (off Whangarei Harbour), Miss Shakespear! Oru. December–March.

2. PRATIA, Gaud.

Slender prostrate or creeping herbs, rarely ascending or erect, Leaves alternate, toothed. Peduncles axillary, 1-flowered. Flowers rather small, often unisexual. Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary, limb 5-partite. Corolla oblique, spllt to the base at the back, 2-lipped; upper lip 2-partite, lower lip 3-lobed, spreading. Staminal tube free from the corolla or nearly so; anthers cohering, 2 lower tipped with short bristles, 3 upper naked. Ovary 2-celled; ovules numerous; stigma 2-lobed or emarginate. Berry globose or obovoid, crowned by the persistent calyx-lobes, indehiscent. Seeds numerous, minute.

A small genus of 16 or 18 species, having its headquarters in Australia, but extending northwards to the Himalaya Mountains and eastwards to New Zealand and temperate South America. It only differs from Lobelia in the indehiscent more or less succulent fruit.

Stems usually long. Leaves ⅕–½ in., orbicular or obovate, obtusely toothed	1. P. angulata.
Stems short, densely matted. Leaves 1/12–1/10 oblong, deeply toothed	2. P. perpusilla.
Stems stout, matted. Leaves ⅕–⅓ in., coarsely sharply toothed, coriaceous. Corolla-tube cylindrical, swollen below	3. P. macrodon.

1. P. angulata, Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 43.—A very variable slender creeping or prostrate much-branched perennial herb, glabrous or rarely slightly pubescent; stems 2–12 in. long, branches often ascending at the tips. Leaves shortly petiolate, ⅙–½ in. long orbicular or ovate-oblong to obovate, obtusely sinuate-deutate, membranous or rather fleshy. Peduncles variable in length, ½–4 in., slender, erect. Flowers ⅓–⅔ in. long, white with purple streaks. Calyx-tube oblong; lobes narrow-triangular. Corolla-tube short, the 3 lower lobes spreading, the 2 upper rather smaller and narrower, ascending. Anthers glabrous, the 2 lower ones tipped with minute bristles. Berry globose or broadly ovoid, ⅓–½ in. diam., purplish-red. Seeds numerous.—Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 157; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 172. Lobelia angulata, Forst. Prod. n. 309; A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 227; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 422; Raoul, Choix, 45. L. littoralis, R. Cunn. ex A. Cunn. Precur. n. 423. L. rugulosa, R. Grah. in Edinb. N. Phil. Journ. (Oct.–Dec., 1829) 186.

Var. arenaria, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 157.—Leaves larger, ½–¾ in. diam., obscurely toothed. Peduncles very short.—P. arenaria, Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 41, t. 29.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Common in damp situations throughout, ascending to 4500ft. Var. arenaria: Auckland Islands and Antipodes Island, also in the extreme south of the South Island. November–February.

2. 'P. perpusilla, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 172.—A minute creeping and rooting perennial herb, forming matted patches 1–4 in. diam.; stems branched, wiry, stout for the size of the plant. Leaves minute, sessile or nearly so, 1/12–1/10 in. oblong or oblong-ovate, obtuse or acute, deeply toothed, rather thick and fleshy, wrinkled or pitted when dry, glabrous or more or less clothed with short bristly hairs. Flowers ¼ in. long, on short axillary peduncles or almost sessile. Calyx-tube short, usually hairy; lobes subulate-lanceolate, recurved. Corolla-lobes narrow, almost equal, acute, the 2 upper ones ascending. Anthers glabrous or with a few scattered hairs on the back, the 2 lower tipped with a minute bristle. Fruit not seen.—Lobelia perpusilla, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 158.

North Island: Lower Waikato, H. Carse! Lake Whangape, T. F. C.; outlet of Lake Taupo, Petrie! Lake Waikaremoana, A. Hamilton! Hawke's Bay, Colenso! Bishop Williams! near Opunake, T. Kirk! November–January.

Probably not uncommon, but easily overlooked. I have seen no specimens from the South Island. In the absence of fruit it is impossible to be certain of the genus, but the habit is more that of Pratia than of Lobelia.

3. P. macrodon, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 172.—A small perfectly glabrous rather fleshy creeping and rooting perennial herb; stems stout, branched, 1–4 in. long, often forming matted patches. Leaves very shortly petioled or almost sessile, ⅕–⅓ in. long, broadly obovate or orbicular or broader than long, cuneate at the base, deeply and coarsely 4–8-toothed, thick and coriaceous, quite glabrous. Flowers on very short axillary peduncles or almost sessile, large, ½–¾ in. long, pale-yellow, sweet-scented. Calyx-tube broadly turbinate; lobes narrow-triangular. Corolla ⅓–½ in. long; tube very long, cylindrical, swollen at the base; lobes short, spreading or recurved. Anthers glabrous, the 2 lower each tipped with a flat rigid bristle with some smaller ones at its base. Berry globose, ¼–⅓ in. diam. Seeds very numerous, minute.

South Island: Nelson—Gordon's Nob, Raglan Mountains, Wairau Gorge, T. F. C.; Acheron and Clarence Valleys, Travers; Mount Murchison, W. Townson! Mount Percival, T. F. C. Canterbury—Mount Torlesse, Haast! Enys! Petrie! T. F. C.; mountains at the head of the Broken River, Enys! Arthur's Pass and Waimakariri Glacier, Kirk! T. F. C. Otago—Mount Cardrona and the Hector Mountains, Petrie! 3000–5500 ft. December–February.

A very distinct species, at once recognised by the long cylindrical corolla-tube.

3. LOBELIA, Linn.

Herbs of very various habit, or (in species not found in New Zealand) rarely shrubs. Leaves alternate, toothed, seldom entire. Flowers axillary and solitary, or in terminal racemes. Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary; limb 5-partite. Corolla oblique, split to the base at the back, 2-lipped; upper lip 2-partite, usually erect, lower 3-lobed, spreading. Staminal tube free from the corolla or rarely adnate to it at the very base; anthers connate, all or the 2 lower only tipped with bristles. Ovary 2-celled; ovules numerous; style filiform; stigma shortly bifid, often surrounded by a ring of hairs. Capsule 2-celled, opening loculicidally within the calyx-lobes into 2 valves. Seeds usually numerous, minute.

A large genus of over 200 species, rare in Europe and Western Asia, abundant in most other regions except the very coldest.

Stems 6–18 in., erect or decumbent. Leaves linear to obovate. Capsule linear-clavate	1. L. anceps.
Stems 1–6 in., creeping and rooting. Leaves ⅙–¼ in., obovate to orbicular, sinuate-dentate. Capsule oblong-obovoid	2. L. linnæoides.
Stems 2–5 in., tortuous among shingle. Leaves ½–1 in., orbicular-obovate, deeply toothed or lobed. Capsule large, broadly ovoid	3. L. Roughii.

1. L. anceps, Linn. f. Suppl. 395.—An erect or decumbent much or sparingly branched leafy herb, everywhere perfectly glabrous. Stems 6–18 in. long, flattened or angular or trigonous, sometimes winged. Leaves very variable in shape and size, 1–3 in. long, the lower ones usually linear-obovate or obovate, gradually narrowed into decurrent petioles, the upper lanceolate or ligulate, gradually passing into the floral leaves, which are smaller, sessile and linear, all sparingly toothed or nearly entire. Flowers small, on short axillary peduncles. Calyx-tube cylindrical, much longer than the short triangular lobes. Corolla pale-blue, ¼ in. long. Capsule elongated, ⅓–½ in. long, linear-clavate.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 158; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 171; Benth. Fl. Austral. iv. 128. L. alata, Labill. Pl. Nov. Holl. i. 51, t. 72; A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 227; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 421; Raoul, Choix, 44.

Kermadec Islands, North and South Islands, Chatham Islands: Common in lowland districts as far south as Oamaru and Okarito. November–March.

A very variable plant. Maritime specimens usually have larger, broader, and more succulent leaves than those found inland, and often present a very distinct appearance.

2. L. linnæoides, Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxiii. (1891) 405.—A small creeping and rooting perennial herb; stems slender, glabrous, sparingly branched, 1–6 in. long. Leaves very shortly petiolate or almost sessile, ⅙–¼ in. diam., orbicular or ovate-orbicular, coarsely sinuate-dentate, rather thick and coriaceous, often purplish beneath, glabrous or with minute bristly hairs above. Peduncles slender, erect, axillary, 1-flowered, 1½–2½ in. long. Flowers ⅓–½ in. long. Calyx-lobes small, narrow-triangular, 1/12 in. long. Corolla ⅓ in. long, the lower lobes obovate, apiculate; the upper narrower, linear-oblong, acute. Anthers glabrous, the 2 lower ones tipped with minute flat bristles. Capsule ¼–⅓ in. long, narrow obovoid-oblong, straight. Seeds small, smooth.—Pratia(?) linnæoides, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 172.

South Island: Canterbury—Ashburton Mountains, T. H. Potts! Macaulay River, Haast; Lake Ohau, Buchanan! Otago—Lindis Pass, Hector and Buchanan; Mount Cardrona, Mount Pisa, Hector Mountains, Mount Tyndall, Mount Bonpland, &c., Petrie! 2500–4500 ft. December–February.

3. L. Roughii, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 171.—A small perfectly glabrous perennial herb 2–5 in. high, full of white acrid fluid. Stems very slender, creeping, branched, tortuous among shingle; branches short, leafy at the tips. Leaves alternate, ½–1 in. long; blade broadly oblong or obovate to orbicular, narrowed into a broad fiat petiole, coarsely and deeply toothed or lobed with a rounded sinus between the teeth, thick and coriaceous; main veins 5–7, spreading from the base of the leaf. Peduncles stout, erect, axillary, 1-flowered; at first shorter than the leaves, but lengthening as the fruit ripens, and sometimes reaching 2 in. or more. Flowers ½ in. long. Calyx globose; lobes linear, obtuse, coriaceous, lengthening as the fruit ripens. Corolla equalling the calyx-lobes, 3lipped; the two dorsal petals (upper lip) being free from one another to the base; lower lip 3-lobed about ⅓ way down. Anthers glabrous. Capsule ⅓–½ in. long, broadly ovoid, coriaceous. Seeds very numerous.—Buch. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. (1882) 347, t. 28, f. 1.

South Island: Shingle slopes on the mountains, not common. Nelson—Dun Mountain, Rough; Wairau Gorge, Travers, T. F. C.; Waiau Valley, Travers. Canterbury—Mount Torlesse, Petrie! T. F. C.; mountains near the Broken River, Enys! T. F. C.; Mount Dobson, T. F. C.; mountains at the head of Lake Ohau, Buchanan! Otago—Mount Ida, Mount St. Bathans, Mount Kyehurn, Petrie! 3000–6000 ft. December–March.

A most distinct species, quite unlike any other. It is remarkable for the corolla being twice split to the base at the back, so that the flower is 3-lipped.

4. ISOTOMA, Lindl.

Herbs of various habit. Leaves alternate, entire or toothed or pinnatifid. Flowers axillary or in terminal racemes. Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary; limb 5-parcite. Corolla-tube cylindrical, entire or very shortly slit on the upper side; limb spreading, with 5 nearly equal lobes. Stamens inserted about the middle of the corolla-tube; filaments connate above; anthers similar to those of Lobelia, the 2 lower ones tipped with one or several short bristles, the 3 upper naked. Ovary 2-celled; ovules numerous; stigma shortly 2-lobed. Capsule 2-celled, loculicidally 2-valved within the calyx-lobes. Seeds numerous.

A small genus of 6 or 8 species, most of them natives of Australia. It differs from Lobelia in the corolla-tube not being split to the base at the back, and in the stamens being affixed to the middle of the tube. The single species found in New Zealand is plentiful in south-east Australia and Tasmania.

1. I. fluviatilis, F. Muell ex Benth. Fl. Austral. iv. 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, ¼–⅓ in. 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, ¼–⅓ in. 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, ⅕ in. long. Seeds smooth.—Lobelia fluviatilis, R. Br. Prodr. 563; Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. i. 238, t. 70.

South Island: Nelson—Lower portion of the Buller Valley and marshy places near Westport, W. Townson! Mokohinou River, Rev. F. H. Spencer! Canterbury—Broken River basin, Enys! Kirk! T. F. C.; Lake Tekapo, T. F. C. Otago—Macrae's, Petrie! 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.

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 80 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.

Annual. Stems leafy, usually branched. Leaves never rosulate. Corolla 5-lobed, much longer than the calyx	1. W. gracilis.
Perennial. Leaves rosulate or crowded on the short stems. Corolla 5-lobed, much longer than the calyx	2. W. saxicola.
Perennial. Leaves crowded, spathulate, with thick white cartilaginous margins. Corolla 5-partite nearly to the base, altogether included within the calyx-lobes	3. W. cartilaginea.

1. W. gracilis, A. D.C. Monog. Camp. 142.—An exceedingly variable annual or rarely perennial herb. Stems slender, angled, 3–24 in. long, erect or decumbent at the base, simple or branched, glabrous or more or less hispid with stiff white hairs. Lower leaves ½–2 in. long, obovate or spathulate to lanceolate or linear, often narrowed into a more or less distinct petiole, entire or sinuate-toothed; margins often cartilaginous; upper leaves smaller and narrower, sometimes almost subulate, sessile, entire or sinuate. Peduncles slender, terminating the branches, very variable in length. Flowers ¼–½ in. long, dark or pale blue, sometimes almost white. Calyx-tube from ovoid to narrow-obconic; lobes 3–5, linear from a triangular base. Corolla variable in size, campanulate, 3–5-lobed. Capsule ¼–½ in. long, oblong or obconic, narrowed into the peduncle. Seeds ellipsoid, compressed, smooth.—A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 225; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 420; Raoul, Choix, 44; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 159; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 169; Benth. Fl. Austral. iv. 137. Campanula gracilis, Forst. Prodr. n. 84.

Kermadec Islands, North and South Islands, Chatham Islands: Common throughout, ascending to 4000 ft. November–February. Also in Australia and Tasmania, eastern Asia, and southern Africa.

Several varieties have been named, but they run so much into one another that it is hardly possible to satisfactorily define them.

2. W. saxicola, A. D.C. Monog. Camp. 144.—A small perfectly glabrous perennial herb 2–12 in. high, either simple or with a branched rootstock putting up few or many short erect stems, usually leafy at the base only. Leaves rosulate or crowded on the short stems, ½–1½ in. long, from narrow-obovate to oblanceolate or almost linear, obtuse or acute, narrowed into a short petiole, entire or obscurely toothed or crenate, in alpuie specimens often thick and coriaceous; margins sometimes white and cartilaginous. Peduncles leafless, 1-flowered, 2–8 in. high. Flowers variable in size, ⅓–1 in. diam., white or pale-blue. Calyx-tube obconic; lobes ovate-subulate, shorter than the corolla-tube. Corolla campanulate, 5-lobed, straight or slightly oblique. Anthers short, linear-oblong, 1 or 2 of them tipped with a short point. Capsule obconic or turbinate, 2–3-celled. Seeds numerous, compressed, smooth.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 160; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 170; Fl. Tasm. i. 239, t. 71; Bot. Mag. t. 6613; Benth. Fl. Austral. iv. 138. W. albomarginata, Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 818. W. pygmaea, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxxi. (1899) 273. Streleskia montana, Hook. f. in Hook. Lond. Journ. Bot. vi. (1847) 266. Campanula saxicola, B. Br. Prodr. 561.

Var. congesta.—Stems creeping, much branched and interlaced, forming densely matted patches several inches in diam. Leaves ½–1 in. long, orbicular- or oblong-spathulate, suddenly narrowed into a petiole often longer than the blade. Peduncles short, ¾–2 in. long. Flowers ⅓–½ in. diam., pale-blue. Capsule globose, ¼–⅓ in. diam.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Abundant in hilly and mountainous situations from the East Cape and Taupo southwards. Var. congesta: Cape Foulwind, near Westport, W. Townson! Sea-level to 6000 ft. December–February.

Almost as variable as the preceding. There are two chief forms, one rather larger, with broad thinnish leaves, a long peduncle, and handsome large white flowers; the other smaller, with usually narrower and more coriaceous leaves and smaller blue flowers. Mr. Townson's plant from Cape Foulwind, which forms broad densely matted patches in sandy soil, has a very distinct appearance, and almost deserves specific rank.

3. W. cartilaginea, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 170.—A small glabrous or pubescent perennial herb 1–4 in. high. Leaves mostly radical, ⅓–1 in. long, broadly spathulate, obtuse, very thick and coriaceous; margins much thickened, entire, white, cartilaginous; petioles broad and flat, thickly coriaceous. Peduncles short, stout, erect, naked or with 1 or 2 leaves, sometimes forked. Flower large for the size of the plant, ½–¾ in. diam., sweet-scented. Calyx-tube short, almost globose; lobes large, linear-oblong, with thick white cartilaginous margins. Corolla shorter than the calyx-lobes and included within them, broad, 5-partite almost to the base. Capsule turbinate.

South Island: Nelson—Wairau Gorge, Rough! Kirk! Tarndale, Sinclair! Clarence and Wairau Valleys, Travers. 3500–6000 ft. January.

A very remarkable species, easily distinguished by the broad and thick cartilaginous margins to the leaves, large calyx-lobes, and small deeply divided corolla, which is altogether included within the calyx. It is apparently rare and local, and I have only seen very indifferent specimens.