8. E. tenuipes, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 59.—Stems short, slender, 1–4 in. long, decumbent and rooting at the base, ascending at the tips, bifariously pubescent. Leaves opposite or alternate, crowded, rigid, erecto-patent, 15–12 in. long, narrow linear-oblong, lower ones obtuse, upper acute, narrowed at the base, glabrous, remotely denticulate or almost entire. Flowers few, solitary in the axils of the upper leaves or terminal, small, white, 16 in. diam. Calyx-lobes lanceolate, acuminate. Capsules slender, ¾–1 in. long, glabrous or puberulous; peduncles much elongated, very slender, 2–3 in. long, finelv pubescent. Seeds smooth.—Haussk. Monog. Epilob. 297, t. 20, f. 83; Kirk, Students' Fl. 171. E. nanum, Col. in Trons. N.Z. Inst. xxvi. (1894) 315.
North Island: Dannevirke (Hawke's Bay) and head of the Wairarapa Valley, Colenso! Ruahine Mountains, A. Hamilton! South Island: Not uncommon in mountain districts from Nelson southwards. December–January.
A pretty little plant, easily distinguished by the narrow linear-oblong erect leaves, very long fruiting peduncles, and smooth seeds. Specimens collected by Mr. Petrie on Mount Hikurangi (East Cape district) have much broader ovate-oblong leaves, but the long fruiting peduncles and smooth seeds are those of E. tenuipes.
9. E. Hectori, Haussk. Monog. Epilob. 298, t. 19, f. 82.—Stems slender, branched below, 2–6 in. high, decumbent and rooting at the base and then erect or ascending, pale-green or reddish, terete, uniformly clothed with short crisp hairs or bifariously pubescent. Leaves small, opposite, uppermost alternate, crowded or distant, ¼–½ long, oblong or linear-oblong, obtuse, entire or remotely denticulate, usually glabrous. Flowers in the axils of the uppermost leaves, small, erect, 15–14 in. diam., white. Calyx-lobes ovate-lanceolate, acute, shorter than the petals. Stigma clavate. Capsules ½–1 in. long, purplish-red, obscurely tetragonous, usually pubescent on the angles, rarely glabrous; peduncles much longer than the leaves. Seeds smooth.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 172.
North Island: Ruahine Range, Herb. Colenso! South Island: Common in mountain districts from Nelson southwards. Ascends to 3500 ft. December–February.
Often confounded with E. alsinoides, from which it is separated by the much more erect habit, narrower leaves, purplish-red capsules with hairy lines, and smooth seeds. The capsule of E. alsinoides is always evenly covered with a grey pubescence.
10. E. alsinoides, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 540.—Stems 4–10 in. long, pale-green, slender, branched, decumbent or creeping and rooting at the base, erect or ascending above, terete, pubescent or more rarely glabrous. Leaves all opposite or the uppermost alone alternate, very shortly petioled, 15–12 in. long, orbicular or orbicular-ovate or oblong-ovate, obtuse, rounded at the base, glabrous, entire or remotely denticulate. Flowers few in the upper axils, small, erect, 15 in. diam. Calyx-lobes ovate-lanceolate, acute, almost
