Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Myrtales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Onagraceae
Genus
Epilobium L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Epilobium microphyllum A.Rich., Essai Fl. Nouv.-Zél., 325 (1832)
Synonymy:
  • = Epilobium microphyllum var. prostratum Petrie, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 44: 180 (1911 [1912])
Vernacular Name(s):
Papakoura; Pāpapakoura
 Description

Tufted herb with wiry stems, branched. Stems black to pale brown, 8–25 cm long, sometimes sprawling, with lines of ± appressed short hairs. Lamina of lf usually broadly elliptic to rotund, rarely elliptic, 2–8 × 1–3 mm. Floral tube 0.4–0.6 mm deep, strigillose outside. Petals white, 2–2.9 × 0.8–1.9 mm. Capsules with conspicuous bands of strigillose hairs along the lines of dehiscence, thus appearing striped light and dark, rarely strigillose all over, 0.9–2.2 cm long; fruiting pedicel 0.2–1.6 cm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Dec.–Feb.

 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Petrie, D. 1912 ("1911"): Descriptions of New Native Species of Phanerogams. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 44: 179–187.
Raven, P.H.; Raven, T. E. 1976: The Genus Epilobium (Onagraceae) in Australasia: a Systematic and Evolutionary Study. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 216: 1–321.
Richard, A. 1832: Essai d'une Flore de la Nouvelle Zélande. In: Dumont d'Urville, J. Voyage de découvertes de l'Astrolabe. Botanique. Tastu, Paris.