406 gtrBAlSTTARCTlC ISLAlSfDS OF NEW ZEALAND. [Systematic Botamj. 



Onagracbae. 



Epilobium confertifolium, Hook. f. 



Efilobium confertifolium. Hook. 1, Ic. Plant., t. 685 (1844) ; Fl. Antarct., 

 i, 10 (1844) ; Haussk., Monog. Epilob., 295 (1884). 



Auckland and Campbell Islands : Meadows and open slopes from sea-level to 

 1,000 ft. alt. ; Hooker, Kirk ! Chapman ! Aston ! Tennant ! Laing ! Chambers ! 

 Antipodes Island : Kirk, Cockayne. (Endemic.) 



Although the specimens brought back by the expedition are not so complete 

 as could be wished, not one of them showing perfectly ripe fruit, they are sufficient 

 to prove that the species is quite distinct from the New Zealand mountain-plants 

 associated with it by Hooker. Its distinguishing characters, in the limited sense 

 in which I now understand it, are the creeping and rooting often densely matted 

 stems, the young branches alone rising from the ground ; the densely crowded pale- 

 green and almost fleshy leaves, which are almost sessile, obovate or obovate- oblong, 

 entire or remotely and obscurely denticulate, the lower ones more or less distichously 

 placed, the upper spirally arranged ; the few almost sessile flowers, placed at the 

 tips of the branchlets, and apparently always of a bright-pink colour ; and the strict 

 and erect perfectly glabrous capsules, the peduncles of which only slightly elongate 

 after the flowering period. 



Epilobium alsinoides, A. Cunn. ? 



Epilobium alsinoides, A. Cunn., Precur., n. 540 (1839) ; Hook, f., Fl. Nov. 

 Zel., i, 59 (1853). 



Antipodes Island : Kirk, Cockayne ! (In New Zealand the species ranges from 

 the North Cape to Stewart Island.) 



This plant was originally discovered by Mr. Kirk, who referred it to E. alsinoides. 

 I have seen only a few flowerless specimens collected by Dr. Cockayne. These agree 

 with E. alsinoides in the fine even pubescence of the stems, but differ so much in habit 

 and general appearance that I am compelled to regard Kirk's identification as highly 

 doubtful. Flowering specimens are required to safely determine the systematic 

 position of the plant. 



Epilobium linnaeoides, Hook. f. 



Epilobium linnaeoides, Hook, f., Fl. Antarct., i, 10, t. 6 (1844) ; Haussk., 

 Monog. Epilob., 301 (1884). 



Auckland and Campbell Islands : Abundant in woods, in scrub, and in open 

 tussock ; Hooker and subsequent collectors. Antipodes Island : Kirk, Cockayne. 

 Macquarie Island : A. Hamilton. (New Zealand, in damp mountainous localities 

 from the Ruahine Mountains southwards.) 



A well-marked and easily recognised species, excellently figured by Hooker in 

 the " Flora Antarctica." 



