Calandrinia menziesii (Hook.) Torr. & A.Gray

Taprooted annual herb. Stems (1)-many, ascending, glabrous, often reddish, 10–40 cm tall. Rosette lvs obovate-spathulate, acute, ciliate, 30–70–(100) × 3–6 mm, tapering to subsheathing base; stem lvs similar, smaller, not becoming sessile, acute. Infl. terminal, racemose; bracts leaflike; pedicels erect, glabrous or sparsely hairy, 3–15–(25) mm long. Sepals lanceolate-ovate, acute, keeled at apex, cuneate and free at base, ciliate on margins and keel, (5)–7–10 × (3)–4–6 mm. Petals 5, purple, (8)–10–13 mm long. Stamens c. 10; anthers yellow; filaments white or purple. Stigmas 3, white. Capsule ellipsoid, c. = sepals, dehiscing by 3 valves. Seeds lenticular, black, smooth, shiny, 1.5–2 mm long.

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

Flowering: (Sep.)–Oct.–Dec.; Fruiting: Oct.–Dec.–(Jan.)