172 Transactions. 



Epilobium pedunculare var. brunnescens has a wide range, but this 1 

 cannot at present define, nor its ecological distribution. However, I have 

 plants in my garden identical in every particular collected from localities 

 far distant from one another — viz., Mount Egmont (coll. L. C.) (Egmont- 

 Wanganui Botanical District) and Four Peaks (coll. A. Wall) (south of the 

 Eastern Botanical District). 



Haussknecht describes a var. laxa of E. pedunculare, and it may be 

 that my new variety is the same. But without actually comparing the 

 material on which Haussknecht founded his variety it is impossible to come 

 to a conclusion, so it seems to me better to risk the establishment of a 

 synonym, which for a time will serve a definite phytogeographic purpose, 

 than to withhold publication or refer the group to var. laxa, which it may 

 not be after all. 



The further question arises, am I right to uphold the species Epilobium 

 pedunculare A. Cunn. rather than follow Hooker, Kirk, and Cheeseman, 

 and deal with it as a variety of E. nummularifolium ? 



Haussknecht — relying only, however, upon dried material — keeps the 

 two species distinct, and strongly supports his position by the two fine 

 figures 94 and 96 {Monographic der Gattung Epilobium, Taf. 22 and 23). 

 He also states that in herbaria E. pedunculare is frequently found mixed 

 with E. nummularifolium, but that they are readily distinguished by 

 E. pedunculare having the leaves smaller, more close-set, thicker, entire, 

 and with shorter stalks ; the capsule glabrous and its peduncle more slender, 

 and the seeds covered much more thickly with papillae (I.e., p. 303 — freely 

 translated). 



My own experience, after many years' observation of various groups 

 included under the specific names nummularifolium and pedunculare, both 

 growing in many parts of New Zealand and also cultivated by me, has 

 convinced me that the two species are absolutely distinct, and separated 

 by well-marked unchangeable characters. 



Epilobium nummularifolium, in one form at any rate — and the species 

 may quite well contain only the one form — is common throughout the 

 North and South Islands, but absent in Stewart Island ; it appears to be 

 mainly a lowland plant, but there is no exact record of its distribution, 

 such being confused with that of E. peduncidare, which ascends at least 

 to the subalpine belt. 



E. nuiitntularifolium may be best distinguished from the aggregate 

 E. pedunculare by its orbicular or suborbicular bright-green leaf with at 

 times a more or less truncate base, its rather long petiole which is 

 winged above, its capsule not glabrous but closely covered with a short 

 (increscent pubescence, its fruiting peduncle not lengthening so greatly as 

 in E. peduncidare, and its less papillose seeds. Even the leaves alone of 

 living specimens enable the two species to be identified in an instant. 



32. Epilobium pedunculare A. Cunn. var. minutiflorum Cockayne var. 

 nov. 



Varietas distinctissima, caulibus gracilibus rubro-purpureis, foliis parvis 

 rotundis subrotundis vel ovatis viridibus, floribus minutis, pedunculis 

 statu fructu solum 3 cm. longis et capsulis purpurascentibus brevibus 

 11 mm. longis facile distinguenda. 



South Island: Eastern Botanical District — (1) Trelissick Basin, but 

 details regarding habitat wanting : A. Wall ! (2) Rakaia River bed not far 

 from mouth of river : H. H. Allan ! 



