the upper alternate, crowded, 16–12 in. long, linear-oblong, obtuse or apiculate, coarsely toothed, rigid and coriaceous, glabrous or pubescent near the base, sessile or very shortly petiolate. Flowers rather numerous in the upper axils, small, erect, 18 in. diam. Calyx-lobes ovate-lanceolate, pubescent, almost equalling the petals. Stigma narrow-clavate. Capsules ½–¾ in. long, sessile or very shortly peduncled, stout, curved, suddenly narrowed below the tip, grooved, finely and closely pubescent. Seeds minutely papillose.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 177.
South Island: Canterbury—Shingly beds of streams, apparently not uncommon. Upper Waimakariri; Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki, T.F.C. Otago—Naseby, Black's, Petrie! 1000–3000 ft. December–February.
This comes nearest to E. melanocaulon, from which it is distinguished by- its smaller size, paler colour, uniform pubescence, and especially by the short curved capsules, which are abruptly narrowed towards the tip.
25. E. microphyllum, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 325, t. 36.—Stems very numerous from a hard and woody base, much branched below, 3–8 in. high, shortly decumbent at the base, erect strict and wiry above, dark purplish-black, hilariously pubescent. Leaves small, opposite or the upper ones alternate, 18–15 in. long, oblong or ovate-oblong or ovate-orbicular, obtuse, sessile or very shortly petioled, obscurely denticulate or quite entire, glabrous, coriaceous. Flowers few towards the tips of the branches, small, white or pink, 18 in. diam. Calyx-lobes ovate-lanceolate, acute, almost equalling the petals. Stigma clavate. Capsules ½–¾ in. long, strict, erect, purplish-black with 4 silvery pubescent lines on the angles; peduncles very short, hardly exceeding the leaves. Seeds smooth.—A. Cunn. Precur. n. 537; Raoul, Choix, 49; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 59; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 79; Haussk. Monog. Epilob. 308, t. 18, f. 79; Kirk, Students Fl. 178.
North Island: East Coast and Cape Palliser, Colenso! near Waiapu, Petrie! Lake Waikaremoana, Elsdon Best! Tukituki River, Petrie! Orongorongo River, Kirk. South Island: Abundant in shingly river-beds in mountain districts. Sea-level to 3000ft. Papa-koura. December–February.
A well-known plant, easily recognised by the strict and wiry habit, purplish-black stems, small uniform leaves, small flowers, and dark-purplish capsules with silvery-pubescent angles.
26. E. Krulleanum, Haussk. Monog. Epilob. 305, t. 23, f. 95.—Stems numerous from a hard and woody base, 2–6 in. high, decumbent below, erect above, strict and wiry, densely leafy, bifariously pubescent. Leaves opposite or the uppermost alternate, ⅓–½ in. long, ovate or oblong-ovate, obtuse, shortly petioled, coriaceous, often purplish, entire or very obscurely denticulate. Flowers few in the upper axils, small, erect, 15 in. diam. Calyx-lobes ovate-lanceolate, acute, almost equalling the petals. Stigma clavate. Capsule strict, erect, glabrous, ¾–1¼ in. long; peduncles usually shorter than the leaves. Seeds papillose.—Kirk, Students Fl. 175.
