Flora of New Zealand Series

Stock rather stout, emitting few to several branching stems up to 25 cm. tall or more; stems often rooting at basal nodes; branchlets pale, terete, glab. or nearly so. Lvs opp., subfloral alt., distant, on broad or slender petioles up to ± 4 mm. long; lamina (8)-10-20 × 8-10-20 mm., orbicular to very broad-ovate, rounded at base, thin, pale green, membr., glab. or slightly puberulous, often reddish below, rather closely, sharply but unevenly toothed. Fls (4)-5-(7) mm. diam.; calyx-lobes ± oblong-lanceolate, < petals; petals white or occ. pale rose, up to 1 cm. long, shallowly emarginate. Capsules ± 3-4 cm. long, glab. or sparsely pubescent; mature peduncles up to 8 cm. long. Seeds papillose.

DIST.: N., S., St., Ch. Moist shaded places, especially by streamsides, lowland to montane, throughout.

FL.- FT. 10-4.