About Jovellana sinclairii (Hook.) Kraenzl.
Jovellana sinclairii is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows into rounded shrubs reaching 1 meter in height and 1.8 meters in width. Its leaves measure 2 to 8 cm long by 2 to 5 cm wide, and grow in opposite arrangements. They attach to stems via petioles that measure 8.2 by 2.3 mm. The upper surface of leaves ranges from dark green to yellow green, while the lower surface is light green. Stems can grow up to 80 cm long, and are either green or red; their bases become woody as the plant ages. This species produces inflorescences up to 30 cm long, bearing cream-white flowers on 3 cm long pedicels. Individual flowers are 4.8 to 10.2 mm long, marked with purple spots, and have two concave lips and a 2 mm long calyx. The anthers are suborbicular, roughly circular, and attached to short filaments. Seeds are 0.35 to 0.6 mm long and dark red-brown, hidden inside an egg-shaped capsule that measures 3.8 to 4.2 mm long. Fruiting occurs from October to February, and seeds are dispersed by wind, and possibly by water. Jovellana sinclairii resembles Jovellana repens, the other Jovellana species endemic to New Zealand. However, Jovellana repens has smaller leaves and flowers, typically produces fewer flowers per inflorescence, and grows as a mat rather than the small shrubby form of Jovellana sinclairii. In cultivation, Jovellana sinclairii grows easily from both seed and cuttings. It prefers a sheltered shady or semi-shady location with well drained soil.
