E. Sinclairii differs from E. pauciflora in no respect except that the leaves are not narrowed into short acuminate points. But the amount of acumination is so variable in E. pauciflora, the points being longer and sharper in young plants, and shorter and broader or almost absent in old ones, that I can entertain no doubt as to the specific identity of the two plants.
2. E. alpina, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 166.—A small erect or spreading rarely decumbent much-branched shrub 1–4 ft. high, seldom more; branches twiggy, densely leafy, puberulous at the lips. Leaves suberect or spreading, small, ⅛–⅙ in. long, broadly elliptical or broadly ovate, obtuse, shortly petiolate, very thick and coriaceous, quite glabrous, concave, veiuless. Flowers small, white, numerous towards the tips of the branches. Peduncles short; bracts few, 5–6, broad, obtuse. Calyx-lobes obtuse. Corolla much as in E. pauciflora, but smaller.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 179. E. affinis, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xx. (1888) 199.
North Island: Vicinity of Lake Taupo, Colenso, T.F.C.; Tongariro and Ruapehu, Kirk! Hill! Rev. F. H. Spencer! Ruahine Range, H. Tryon! Kaweka Range, Petrie! South Island: Nelson—Ngakawau, Rev. F. H. Spencer; Mount Owen and Buller Valley, W. Townson! T.F.C. Westland—Denniston, J. Caffin! Southern Alps, Sinclair and Haast (Handbook). 1000–4000 ft. December–January.
Closely allied to E. pauciflora, but distinguished by the smaller size and more spreading habit, smaller obtuse leaves, and fewer obtuse bracts.
Three Australian species of Epacris (E. purpurascens, R. Br., E. pulchella, Cav., and E. microphylla, R. Br.) have become plentifully naturalised in open "tea-tree country" in several localities near the Manukau Harbour in the vicinity of Papakura and Drury (Auckland District). The first-mentioned was originally discovered by the late Dr. Sinclair and General Bolton nearly fifty years ago, and was included by Sir J. D. Hooker in both the "Flora Novæ-Zealandiæ" and the Handbook, although he expressed the opinion that it was probably introduced. The two others were first noticed by Mr. A. T. Urquhart (see Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. 364, and xxviii. 20). All three species belong to the division of the genus which has the corolla-tube shorter or barely longer than the calyx, and all three have broad acuminate leaves, cordate at the base. E. purpurascens can be distinguished by the large leaves with long pungent points and rather large pale-pink flowers, which are usually most abundantly produced.
5. ARCHERIA, Hook. f.
Much-branched erect or spreading shrubs. Leaves flat. Flowers white or pink, in few-flowered terminal racemes. Bracts caducous. Calyx of 5 almost free sepals. Corolla-tube rather broad, ventricose-cylindrical or almost campanulate; lobes 5, short, spreading or recurved, imbricate in the bud. Stamens 5, affixed to the throat of the corolla; filaments very short; anthers broad, attached about the middle. Hypogynous disc short, cupular or of 5 free scales. Ovary 5-celled and deeply 5-lobed: style columnar, inserted in a broad depression at the top of the ovary; stigma dilated, more or less distinctly 5-lobed; ovules numerous in each cell. Capsule 5-celled, loculicidally 5-valved. Seeds numerous.
