Flora of New Zealand Series

Sprawling herb. Stems 4-20 cm long, conspicuously purplish black, glabrous, or with rather sparse, minute, semi-erect hairs extending down from angle formed at point of fusion of petiole margins. Lamina of lf broadly elliptic to orbicular, 4-16 × 3-8 mm. Floral tube 1-1.2 mm deep, glabrous. Petals white with pink veins, flushed pink after pollination, 4.5-9 × 3-4 mm. Capsule purple, 1.2-4 cm long, glabrous; fruiting pedicel 1-6.5 cm long.

S.: known from a few localities only - Barron Saddle at head of Dobson R. (S. Canterbury), Mt Cook and W. Otago (Mt Earnslaw, vicinity of Hectors Col, upper West Matukituki, Pisa Range, Rock and Pillar Range).

Endemic.

Fine-grained stony debris, extremely local and rare, 1300-1850 m.

FL Dec-Jan.