NOTES ON SOME PLANTS OF OTAGO, NEW ZEALAND. 3821 
or extensive suite of specimens—which might illustrate fully the varia- 
tions of individuals—that prevents my adopting that view which re- 
gards the plants in question, as forms rather than species.* Between 
several of the plants separately named in Dr. Hooker's * Handbook of 
the New Zealand Flora,' there are not, so far as I have observed, any 
good or permanent differential characters of specific value. And I can- 
not doubt that a study of any considerable suite of individuals in their 
living state will lead to a reduction of the present number of book- 
species! There is a general physiognomical resemblance between the 
Otago and British Epilobia ; and one at least of the former, E. tetra- 
gonum, L., is British. 
In cultivation in this country, some of the Otago Zpilobia appear 
to be hardy. Mr. Gorrie informs me that several small woody species, 
which were contained in soil and Tree-fern-stems sent him some 
years ago from Otago, have successfully stood out several winters in 
northern exposures at Trinity, near Edinburgh. 
1. E. junceum, Forst. Uplands, about Fairfield, Saddlehill, 12-15 
in. high; Chain Hill ranges, 8-10 in.; ranges about Finegand, Lower 
Clutha; December, in flower, W. L. L. Apparently one of the com- 
monest Otago species. Some of its states resemble, in general aspect, 
our Æ. palustre, L., and E. parviflorum, Schreb. Its leaves are occa- 
sionally infested by the parasitic icidium Otagense, Linds.T 
The Saddlehill plant is certainly noć very pubescent or tomentose. 
The young flower and leaf-shoots only are covered with a very fine 
white tomentum. There is a very slight puberulence observable here 
and there on the stem; while the mature leaves are glabrous on bot 
or they have occasional traces only of puberulence. Branches 
about 1 ft. high. Lower leaves linear-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 
about 1} in. long and under j in. broad; distantly alternate; margin 
variously sinuate-serrate. Upper leaves entire, smaller, and more 
linear. 
The Finegand plant is shorter, more procumbent, and more leafy. 
There is less tomentosity of young leaf and flower-shoots, and of calyx- 
tube. Puberulence exists on young leaves only. Leaves smaller, nar- 
* I am disposed Pas ape with Dr. Müller, who, in his * Vegetation of the 
Chatham Islands,’ es only one species of eerie and ed 
$U a a ae on pid Lichens d Fungi, Trans. Royal Society of 
Edinburgh, vol. xxiv. p. 431, plate xxx. figs. 69, 70. 
