Art. XLIII.—On a New Species of Celmisia.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 23, 1890, Page 407

Art. XLIII.—On a New Species of Celmisia. By F. R. Chapman. [Read before the Otago Institute, 10th June, 1890.] Celmisia campbellensis. A low-growing glabrous species. Not tufted. Leaves rosulate, 3in.-6in. long, ½in.-1in. wide, lanceolate, obtuse or acute, serrate, coriaceous. Above, glabrous; below, thinly clad with loose hairy tomentum. Remarkably deeply ribbed. Sheathing. Scapes numerous, 12in. high. Slightly tomentose. Bracts numerous, 1in.-2in. long, large, sheathing, glabrous or slightly tomentose, serrate. Head very similar in size and colour and the form of involucral scales to C. vernicosa. Corolla-tube pilose; pappus ⅙in. long; achene hispid. Hab. Campbell Island.

This species is founded on the remarkable foliage, which is quite different from that of any other species, and notably so from that of C. vernicosa, with which it is closely allied. The broad, glabrous, strongly-ribbed, acutely-toothed leaves make it a totally different plant in appearance, and, though the head does not differ materially from that of C. vernicosa, the general appearance of the scape is different. In place of the narrow shining bracts, the tip of each of which reaches the base of the next, the broad serrate bracts of this species, set on a much stouter scape dusted with tomentum hairs, considerably overlap those above them. In one of my specimens the scape is branched, and carries two heads. This species was discovered by my brother, Mr. Martin Chapman, of Wellington, when we were out together on a small piece of level country, near a large rock marked on the chart, in the vicinity of Venus Cove, Perseverance Harbour, Campbell Island, and I have named it from the locality. We found about a dozen plants in the space of an acre here, and none beyond. I have found it difficult to keep in cultivation.