Ourisia modesta
Ourisia modesta Diels
Ourisia modesta, known as creeping foxglove, is a perennial, small-leaved, creeping herb in the Plantaginaceae family. It is endemic to New Zealand and was first described by Ludwig Diels in 1909. The plant features opposite, broadly ovate to circular leaves and solitary flowers in each node. The flowers have an irregular calyx and a white, irregular corolla with a hairy tube and internal ring of hairs. The species is classified as Threatened - Nationally Critical in the New Zealand Threat Classification System.
Description
Ourisia modesta is a low-growing, perennial herb that creeps along the ground. It is native to both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The plant is mostly glabrous, with opposite, widely spaced leaves that are broadly ovate to circular in shape. Each node produces a single flower with an irregular calyx and a small, white corolla. The corolla tube contains a single line of hairs and an internal ring of hairs. This species is considered to be in a critically threatened conservation status within New Zealand.
Distribution
New Zealand North · New Zealand South
