4. L. Kirkii, Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxii. (1890) 439.—Small, prostrate, glabrous or nearly so. Stems many from the top of a short stout rootstock, prostrate, branched, flexuous, almost filiform, 2–4 in. long. Radical leaves entire, narrow-linear or linear-spathulate, ⅓–1 in. long, sheathing at the base, obtuse at the tip; cauline similar but smaller. Racemes short, elongating in fruit. Flowers minute. Sepals ovate, concave. Petals narrow, slightly shorter than the sepals. Stamens 4. Pods on slender pedicels about their own length, ovate-orbicular, minutely notched at the tip; style short, exceeding the notch.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 37.
South Island: Otago—Saline situations in the Maniototo Plains, Petrie! December–January.
An exceedingly well marked little plant, not closely allied to any other.
5. L. flexicaule, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. (1882) 380.—Perfectly glabrous, smooth and fleshy. Stems numerous, branched, flexuous, procumbent; branches ascending at the tips. Lower leaves 2–3 in. long, petiolate, linear-oblong, pinnatifid; lobes 2–6 pairs, entire or toothed at the tips. Cauline leaves smaller, sessile or shortly petiolate, linear-spathulate or cuneate, coarsely toothed towards the apex. Racemes 1–2 in. long, lateral or terminal, leaf-opposed. Flowers small. Petals linear, obtuse. Stamens 2. Fruiting pedicels rather longer than the pod. Pod broadly ovate, slightly winged above, notched at the apex; style not exceeding the notch.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 35. L. incisum, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 15; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 14 (not of Roth).
North Island: Auckland—Mercury Bay, Banks and Solander! shores of the Manukau and Waitemata Harbours, Kirk! T. F. C; Rangitoto Island, T. F. C. South Island: Near Westport, W. Townson! November–January.
This appears to be an exceedingly local plant, and is fast becoming extinct in the few habitats at present known. It is well characterized by the procumbent habit, lateral racemes, and diandrous flowers.
6. L. tenuicaule, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. (1882) 381.—More or less clothed with minute soft whitish hairs, rarely glabrous. Stems numerous, slender, branched, procumbent or sub-erect, 6–12 in. long. Radical leaves numerous, thin, 1–4 in. long, linear-oblong, pinnate or pinnatifid; leaflets sometimes stalked, finely and sharply serrate or laciniate on the upper edge; teeth irregular, sometimes piliferous; petiole sheathing at the base. Cauline leaves usually few, sometimes absent, oblong-spathulate to linear, sessile or shortly petiolate, entire or serrate. Flowers very numerous, minute, in long and slender terminal racemes. Petals wanting. Stamens 4. Pod very small, orbicular, shorter than the
