Linaria purpurea (L.) Mill.

Glabrous, perennial herb with stout rootstock; stems to c. 80 cm tall, branching towards apex. Lvs 2.5–8 cm × 2–6 mm, linear or narrow-lanceolate, glaucous; apex acute. Infl. long; fls in dense, many-flowered, glabrous racemes, borne on each stem branch. Bracts 1.5–3 mm long, narrow-linear, < or > pedicels at anthesis. Calyx 1.5 mm long, lobed to base; lobes lanceolate or narrow-ovate, obtuse to acute. Corolla 12–15 mm long (including slightly curved spur 5–7 mm long), purple or pink, occasionally lower lip white, spotted purple, and pouch white-bearded; upper lip 3–4 mm long. Capsule 2–4 mm diam., subglobose. Seed 1–1.3 mm long, sharply 3-angled, rugose, black, wingless.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Jan.–Dec.