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Volume I (1961) - Flora of New Zealand Indigenous Tracheophyta - Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledons
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Epilobium L.

EPILOBIUM L., 1753

Fls us. solitary, regular, 4-merous; perig. with very short calyx-tube; petals us. 2-lobed; stamens 8, in 2 series; ovary 4-celled, ovules ∞; stigma capitate to 4-lobed. Fr. a long narrow capsule with loculicidal dehiscence; seeds mostly papillose, with a chalazal brush of hairs (coma). Herbs or subshrubs with at least lower lvs opp. Some 200 spp., mainly of temperate regions.

Key

1
Fls distributed along stems and branches, not confined to upper portion
2
Fls confined to upper portion of branches
11
2
Capsules distinctly pubescent
3
Capsules glab. or very nearly so
5
3
Stems firm or woody, ascending or scrambling, rooting only at lower nodes
27. simulans
Stems herbaceous, prostrate, rooting at nodes
4
4
Capsule pubescence marked; lvs not rugose; stem pubescence marked
1. nummularifolium
Capsule pubescence sparse; lvs ± rugose; stem pubescence weak
3. nerterioides
5
Lvs conspicuously and ± sharply toothed
6
Lvs entire or obscurely and bluntly toothed
7
6
Lvs ± 10 mm. diam.; petioles 4-5 mm. long
8. linnaeoides
Lvs ± 4 mm. diam.; petioles ± 1 mm. long
7. caespitosum
7
Lvs (6)-10-20 mm. long; seeds not obviously papillose
6. macropus
Lvs 3-4-(12) mm. long; seeds distinctly papillose
8
8
Stems purplish black, firm; lvs 6-12 mm.; capsules dark purple
5. purpuratum
Stems not purplish black, weak; lvs not > 9 mm.; capsules not dark purple
9
9
Fls ± 10 mm. diam., purple-veined; lvs very glossy
4. pernitens
Fls smaller, not purple-veined; lvs not or slightly glossy
10
10
Lvs rugose, 2.5-6·5 mm. diam.; capsule 12-25 mm. long
3. nerterioides
Lvs not rugose, 3-10 mm. diam.; capsule 12-40 mm. long
2. pedunculare
11
Capsules glab. or very nearly so
12
Capsules distinctly pubescent or glandular, at least on angles
63
12
Mature peduncles distinctly longer than lvs
13
Mature peduncles not or very little longer than lvs
37
13
Lvs closely and sharply toothed, suborbicular
14
Lvs remotely, often obscurely, bluntly toothed to subentire, not sub-orbicular
15
14
Plant prostrate, rooting at nodes; fls distributed
8. linnaeoides
Plant ascending, not or rooting only at lower nodes; fls mainly in upper axils
9. rotundifolium
15
Plant of shallow running water; fls 6·5-10 mm. diam.; calyx-lobes much < petals; lvs all opp.; stems ascending only at tips
6. macropus
Plant not of running water; not with all the above characters in combination
16
16
Lvs fleshy, with conspicuous red margins, densly crowded, up to 10 mm. long, all opp., about oblong, midrib prominent below
30. rubro-marginatum
Lvs not with all the above characters in combination
17
17
Lvs of linear or narrow-oblong order
18
Lvs of ovate, obovate, lanceolate, or elliptic order
22
18
Lvs, all or most, over 12 mm. long, including petiole
19
Lvs, all or most, under 12 mm. long, including petiole
20
19
Denticles several, seeds papillose
38. novae-zelandiae
Denticles very few, seeds smooth
11. elegans
20
Capsules pubescent, at least on angles, purplish-red
17. hectori
Capsules glab., not purplish-red
21
21
Fls large
11. elegans
Fls not over 5 mm. diam.
12. tenuipes
22
Petioles ± = lamina in length or a little shorter
23
Petiole distinctly shorter than lamina
25
23
Stems and branches erect or straggling, sts rooting at lower nodes
28. brevipes
Stems and branches creeping and rooting at nodes
24
24
Calyx-lobes much shorter than petals
26. crassum
Calyx-lobes ± as long as petals
16. antipodum
25
Lvs of lanceolate or narrow-elliptic order
26
Lvs of ovate, obovate, or oblong order
28
26
Plant not woody at base; denticles 0 or very few
11. elegans
Plant distinctly woody towards base; denticles several to many
27
27
Lvs pale green; branches opp., often ∞; peduncles distinctly > lvs
38. novae-zelandiae
Lvs dark green to purplish; branches few; peduncles not or hardly > lvs
39. glabellum
28
Plant with stiff woody branches
29
Plant not woody or only so at very base
30
29
Lvs mostly broadly ovate-oblong; branches at rather wide angle, not elongate
37. dawbinii
Lvs mostly narrowly ovate to elliptic; branches at rather narrow angle, elongate
38. novae-zelandiae
30
Plant herbaceous at base or nearly so
31
Plant distinctly hard and woody at base
33
31
Plant tufted, branches many; lvs not > 10 mm. long
20. cockaynianum
Plant very lax, branches few; lvs mostly > 10 mm. long
32
32
Lvs thin, membr.; of ovate order
10. insulare
Lvs rather thick, ± fleshy; of elliptic to narrow-obovate order
15. findlayi
33
Lvs distinctly stalked
34
Lvs sessile or very nearly so
35
34
Petioles up to 4 mm. long; lamina of ovate order, (6·5)-10-17 × (5)-7-12 mm.
25. gracilipes
Petioles up to 15 mm. long; lamina of elliptic order, (12)-20-(25) × 6-10 mm
28. brevipes
35
Mature peduncles not much exceeding lvs
39. glabellum
Mature peduncles distinctly exceeding lvs
36
36
Lvs (under surfaces) and stems reddish; lvs of ovate order
25. gracilipes
Lvs and stems pale green; lvs of lanceolate order
38. novae-zelandiae
37
Lvs with distinct red margins; stems prostrate and rooting below, ± ascending at tips; lvs densely crowded, ± fleshy
30. rubro-marginatum
Lvs without distinct red margins; plant without the above characters in combination
38
38
Lvs crowded, fleshy, 2-4 cm. long, including petiole; petiole ± = lamina; stems creeping and rooting
26. crassum
Lvs and stems not as above in combination
39
39
Plant with weak, slender, flaccid stems up to 45 cm. long; lvs distant; seeds smooth
10. insulare
Plant not having all the above characters in combination
40
40
Lvs, at least upper ones, distinctly (may be minutely) toothed
41
Lvs entire or obscurely toothed
52
41
Mature capsules sessile or subsessile, almost hidden by lvs
42
Mature capsules us. stalked, not at all hidden
43
42
Plant glab. or nearly so, not at all glandular
31. pycnostachyum
Plant ± densely clad in glandular hairs
32. forbesii
43
Mature peduncles much > lvs
44
Mature peduncles not or little > lvs
45
44
Lvs palish green, submembr., of lanceolate or narrow-oblong order; plants hard and woody at base
38. novae-zelandiae
Lvs darker green, subcoriac., of broad-ovate or ovate-oblong order; plants not hard and woody at base
22. chloraefolium
45
Laminae coarsely and closely toothed
46
Laminae finely and remotely toothed
47
46
Stems strict, erect, rather stout, not or sparingly branched
34. melanocaulon
Stems not strict, slender, much-branched
35. polyclonum
47
Petioles ± 1 cm. long
28. brevipes
Petioles very short or almost absent
48
48
Fls large, up to 18 mm. diam., seeds smooth
29. vernicosum
Fls small, not > 10 mm. diam., seeds papillose
49
49
Laminae, all or most, 20-30 × 10-14 mm.; fls ± 10 mm. diam.
42. matthewsii
Laminae, all or most, not > 20 × 8 mm.; fls not > 8 mm. diam.
50
50
Capsules minutely pubescent; plants us. not > c. 10 cm. tall
43. porphyrium
Capsules glab.; plants us. not < c. 15 cm. tall
51
51
Mature peduncles (5)-10-15 mm. long; laminae not cuneately narrowed to base; stems not rigid
39. glabellum
Mature peduncles c. 4 mm. long; laminae cuneately narrowed to base; stems rigid
40. erubescens
52
Lvs, all or most, < 15 mm. long, including petiole
53
Lvs, all or most, > 15 mm. long, including petiole
60
53
Plant creeping, not woody at base
54
Plant erect or spreading, distinctly woody at base
56
54
Lvs petioled, stems glab.
13. tasmanicum
Lvs subsessile, stems at least partly pubescent when young
55
55
Lvs 6-12 × 3-6 mm., stems bifariously pubescent
14. confertifolium
Lvs 4-5 × 2-5 mm., young stems clad in ash-grey pubescence
19. thymifolium
56
Peduncles not > 5 mm. long; stems very slender
43. porphyrium
Peduncles distinctly longer; stems rather stout
57
57
Fls ± 10-20 mm. diam., sessile, rose
29. vernicosum
Fls not > 7 mm. diam., shortly peduncled, not rose
58
58
Stems strict, erect, in upper part close-set; lvs close-set
39. glabellum
Stems openly branched or sprawling, not close-set; lvs rather distant
59
59
Lvs distinctly, sts minutely, toothed
35. polyclonum
Lvs entire or very obscurely toothed
41. krulleanum
60
Fls ± 10-20 mm. diam., sessile, rose
29. vernicosum
Fls not or little > 10 mm. diam., stalked, not rose
61
61
Petioles ± 10 mm. long; stems glab.; lvs very glossy
28. brevipes
Petioles very short or absent; stems with pubescent lines; lvs not or slightly glossy
62
62
Lvs membr., not glossy; petioles broad; fls ± 10 mm. diam
42. matthewsii
Lvs subcoriac., somewhat glossy; petioles slender or absent; fls not > 7 mm. diam
39. glabellum
63
Mature peduncles distinctly > lvs
64
Mature peduncles < or ± = lvs
84
64
Lvs of orbicular order, thin, coarsely and sharply toothed, petiolate, ± 10-20 mm. diam
9. rotundifolium
Lvs not having all the above characters in combination
65
65
Plant very lax, with slender elongate stems
66
Plant and stems not as above
71
66
Capsules pubescent on angles only; lvs of linear- to narrow-oblong order
17. hectori
Capsules pubescent on faces, often sparsely; lvs not of linear- to narrow-oblong order
67
67
Lvs of elliptic to lanceolate order, stems woody towards base
27. simulans
Lvs not of elliptic to lanceolate order, stems not or very slightly woody at base
68
68
Seeds papillose
69
Seeds smooth
70
69
Calyx-lobes linear-lanceolate, lvs thin, capsules slender
24. wilsonii
Calyx-lobes ovate-lanceolate, lvs subcoriac., capsules rather stout
22. chloraefolium
70
Lvs 20-40 mm. long, fls 8-12 mm. diam.
49. chionanthum
Lvs 10-20 mm. long, fls not or little > 7 mm. diam.
10. insulare
71
Lvs of linear-to narrow-oblong order
72
Lvs of ovate to broad-oblong or suborbicular order
75
72
Stems slender, not > 16 cm. long
73
Stems stout, mostly > 30 cm. long
74
73
Lvs, at least upper ones, acute or subacute; capsules brownish
12. tenuipes
Lvs all obtuse; capsules purplish red
17. hectori
74
Indumentum of short hairs
46. cinereum
Indumentum of mixed long and short hairs
47. hirtigerum
75
Capsules densely pubescent
18. alsinoides
Capsules sparsely pubescent, except on angles
76
76
Petals but little > calyx-lobes
43. porphyrium
Petals distinctly > calyx-lobes
77
77
Capsules pubescent on angles only
78
Capsules pubescent, often very sparsely, on faces
79
78
Stems not or very slightly woody at base; pubescence faint
17. hectori
Stems distinctly woody at base; pubescence marked, silvery
36. microphyllum
79
Seeds smooth; fls small; not > 6·5 mm. diam.
80
Seeds papillose; fls distinctly larger
82
80
Stems very weak, straggling, elongate
10. insulare
Stems not very weak, tufted, short
81
81
Lvs oblong; capsules 12-25 mm., purplish red
17. hectori
Lvs broad-ovate; capsules 25-50 mm., brownish red
20. cockaynianum
82
Stems rigid, stigmas emarginate, styles thickened upwards
23. perplexum
Stems not rigid, stigmas capitate, styles not thickened upwards
83
83
Stems dark red to purple, petioles slender
24. wilsonii
Stems not dark red or purple, petioles broad
22. chloraefolium
84
Basal parts not hard and woody
85
Basal parts hard and woody
91
85
Stems rigid, stigmas emarginate, styles thickened upwards
23. perplexum
Stems, stigmas, styles not as above
86
86
Stems prostrate, creeping, rooting at nodes, ascending only at tips
19. thymifolium
Stems erect or ascending, rooting only at lower nodes
87
87
Seeds smooth
88
Seeds distinctly papillose
90
88
Lvs distinctly coarsely toothed, us. mottled with grey
21. pictum
Lvs entire or remotely and rather obscurely toothed, not mottled with grey
89
89
Lvs 12-20 mm. long, of ovate order; stems elongate, up to 45 cm. long
10. insulare
Lvs 6-12 mm. long, of oblong order; stems ± 5-15 cm. long
17. hectori
90
Stems dark red to purple; calyx-lobes linear-lanceolate; lvs membr.; capsules slender
24. wilsonii
Stems not dark red to purple; calyx-lobes ovate-lanceolate; lvs subcoriac.; capsules rather stout
22. chloraefolium
91
Angles of capsules conspicuously silvery-pubescent
36. microphyllum
Angles of capsules not with above pubescence
92
92
Lvs mottled with grey, teeth coarse
21. pictum
Lvs not so mottled, teeth fine to obscure
93
93
Lvs distinctly petioled
94
Lvs sessile or subsessile
99
94
Lvs viscid, glandular hairy
32. forbesii
Lvs not viscid, not glandular hairy
95
95
Capsules curved, rather suddenly narrowed to apex, almost hidden by lvs
33. rostratum
Capsules not as above, not at all hidden
96
96
Lvs pilose, rather long stalked
97
Lvs glab., shortly stalked
98
97
Fls not > 7 mm. diam
50. pubens
Fls well over 8 mm. diam.
50. var. astonii
98
Fls ± 5 mm. diam.; lvs not or slightly glossy
43. porphyrium
Fls ± 10 mm. diam.; lvs very glossy
29. vernicosum
99
Capsules viscid; lvs viscid
32. forbesii
Capsules and lvs not viscid
100
100
Capsules curved, rather suddenly narrowed to apex, almost hidden by lvs; plant not > ± 15 cm.
33. rostratum
Capsules otherwise, not at all hidden; plant taller
101
101
Mature lvs glab., except sts on margins and veins
102
Mature lvs distinctly pubescent to villous on surface
104
102
Fls white to pale rose, ± 20 mm. diam.
44. pallidiflorum
Fls deep red to pink, not > 10 mm. diam.
103
103
Lvs rather distant, acute, of lanceolate order; branches ∞
45. erectum
Lvs approximate, at most subacute, of ovate to oblong order; branches few
48. billardierianum
104
Petioles distinct, lamina of ovate order
50. pubens
Petioles 0 or extremely short, lamina of narrow-lanceolate order
105
105
Indumentum of fine greyish pubescence
46. cinereum
Indumentum of long hairs mixed with shorter ones
47. hirtigerum

Haussknecht's work (Mon. Gatt. Epilobium, Jena 1884) remains the most important treatment of the genus, but there is need for an intensive restudy of the N.Z. spp. Of the 50 spp. here recognized as indigenous to N.Z. the following (all SIMILES) occur or are represented by very closely allied spp. in Australia and Tasmania: billardierianum, hirtigerum, pallidiflorum, pubens. Whether any of our plants hitherto referred to E. tasmanicum Hauss. are conspecific with the Tasmanian plant remains uncertain.

Haussknecht (Mon. Gatt. Epilob. 1884) recognizes two main groups for the N.Z. spp. (all placed in his section LYSIMACHION): LEIOSPERMAE -seeds with quite glab. testa; ADENOSPERMAE -seeds with minutely to conspicuously papillose testa. I find it impossible to make a clear-cut distinction on this basis; much depends on the magnification used. His further grouping is as follows:

A. SIMILES

Plants tall, erect, ± woody at base, herbaceous above; fls ∞, in axils of upper lvs; lvs rather large: billardierianum, chionanthum, hirtigerum, pallidiflorum.

B. MICROPHYLLAE

Plants mostly low-growing, herbaceous; stems creeping below, erect or ascending above; fls few, in axils of upper lvs; lvs small: (a) capsules with short peduncles- confertifolium, tasmanicum, thymifolium; (b) capsules with elongate peduncles when mature- alsinoides, chloraefolium, hectori, insulare, rotundifolium, tenuipes.

C. SPARSIFLORAE

Plants herbaceous (± woody in purpuratum) creeping, rooting at nodes; fls in axils of intermediate lvs; capsules with elongate peduncles; lvs mostly small: caespitosum, linnaeoides, nummularifolium, pedunculare, purpuratum.

D. DERMATOPHYLLAE

Plants suffruticulose, mostly rather small; fls us. few, in uppermost axils; lvs ± rigid and coriac.: (a) capsules with elongate peduncles- crassum, macropus; (b) capsules with short peduncles- brevipes, erubescens, glabellum, krulleanum, melanocaulon, microphyllum, novaezelandiae, polyclonum, pycnostachyum.

Cheeseman (Man. N.Z. Fl. 1925, 600) places E. macropus in SPARSIFLORAE.

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