Flora of New Zealand Series

Creeping herb forming thick loose mats, either in very wet ground or floating. Stems 2-20 cm long, creeping and rooting below, with short bristly hairs all round. Lamina of lf elliptic to narrowly-ovate, 6-15 × 3-8 mm. Floral tube 1.3-2 mm deep, glabrous or somewhat hairy. Petals usually white, very rarely pink at first, but flushed pink after pollination, 6.5-12 × 4-8 mm. Capsule glabrous, (3)-4-6.5 cm long; fruiting pedicel (1)-2.5-12 cm long.

N.: C. Volcanic Plateau, Kaweka, Kaimanawa, Ruahine, and Tararua Ranges; S.: mountains of N.W. Nelson, inland Marlborough and E. of the Main Divide to the Takitimu Mountains, Southland.

Endemic.

Streams and flushes, mostly 600-1700 m.

FL Nov-Mar.