Authors:
A low tufted dwarf, evergreen shrub, only 5-10cm tall, but eventually spreading (sometimes by underground stolons) to 60cm across. Stems short and spreading, little-branched. Leaves crowded, leathery, deep shiny green, pinnately lobed with linear divisions and a short stalk. Flowers either male or female, borne on separate plants, white, flushed with green, especially in bud, the male 2-3cm diameter, the female 1.6-2.4cm, borne in panicle like clusters; tepals five. Limestone rock crevices. New Zealand, South Island, mountains of northwestern Nelson. An altogether delightful little plant for the alpine house, although it will succeed outdoors on a raised bed or scree. The plant is readily raised from seed, although to ensure seed production one must have at least one male and one female plant in a collection. C. marmoraria was only discovered in 1973 but has gained rapid favour amongst alpine enthusiasts. In recent times it has been used to hybridise with other New Zealand species, notably C. paniculata and C. petriei; the resultant offspring are very variable and some are very fine but of a more rampant nature, requiring judicious pruning to keep them within bounds. It is to be hoped that only the very best of these will be given cultivar names.
