Flora of New Zealand Series

Stems rather stiff, stout, glab., purplish black; plant forming dense to rather open patches up to ± 15 cm. diam.; branchlets few. Lvs opp., crowded, on short petioles; lamina (5)-10-12 × (4)-5-7 mm., broad-oblong to suborbicular, sts ovate-oblong, thick, coriac., glab., often purplish below; margins minutely toothed or entire. Fls? Capsules 30-50 mm. long, stout, purplish black, glab.; peduncles stout, purplish, 25-50 mm. long; seeds papillose.

DIST.: S. "Alps of Otago, alt. 6000 ft. Hector." There is one sheet of specimens at K, containing: (a) "Lake District alpine Feb. No. 5" and "E. purpuratum Hook. f. Otago 1863, Hector and Buchanan." Four pieces, 2 capsules. (b) "E. purpuratum Hk. f. Otago Mts 6000 ft. Hector." Two pieces, 5 capsules. (c) Three pieces, immature capsules, "Herb. Col. Mus. N.Z. Epilobium purpuratum Hook. Hector's Col. 6000 ft. Hector. Rcvd 2/83."