Flora of New Zealand Series

Type locality: Lake Tekapo. Type: A, "Lake Tekapo, Canterbury Alps, alt. 2500 ft. Jan. 1883." There are several specimens on the sheet, the type includes only those with the mature capsules still pubescent.

Small herb, with several to many wiry stems arising from a woody stock; stems and branches stiff, erect, or ascending, uniformly grey-pubescent, 4-12-(15) cm. tall. Lvs opp., floral alt., close-set, us. overlapping, on slender petioles up to 2 mm. long. Lamina narrow-oblong, often apiculate, (3)-5-8-(10) × 1-3 mm., coriac., glab. except near base; coarsely toothed. Fls ± 3-5 mm. diam.; calyx pubescent, ± 5 mm. long; lobes ovate-oblong to ovate-lanceolate; petals pink to white, up to 10 mm. long, often shorter. Capsules 10-15-(20) mm. long, curved, suddenly narrowed to apex and base; hoary pubescent, becoming glab., sts glabrate even when immature. Peduncles obsolete or very short. Seeds minutely papillose.

DIST.: S. Lowland to montane streambeds, open grassland from lat. 42° 31´ to 45°, east of divide.

FL.- FT. 12-2.