Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Myrtales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Onagraceae
Genus
Epilobium L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Epilobium petraeum Heenan, New Zealand J. Bot. 34: 41-45 (1996)
 Description

Compact, dense, entirely glabrous, spreading herb, up to 40 cm diameter and 10 cm tall. Older stems prostrate or spreading; new stems erect, red, and visible because leaves spreading; not rooting at nodes. Leaves 15—24 × 4—7 mm, opposite, ovate, elliptic, or broad-elliptic, glossy, erect or spreading, longer than internodes, 3—5 teeth on each margin, adaxial surface dark-green and sometimes flushed red, abaxial surface red, margin and adaxial midrib usually red, base cuneate, apex obtuse or retuse; petiole 5-7 mm long, slender, channelled, appressed to the stem or spreading slightly. Inflorescence in upper part of stem, conspicuous; flowers hermaphrodite, erect; pedicel 2-4 mm long, green; bud pink. Sepals 4, 4-4.5 × 1.2—1.4 mm, oblong, not keeled, red, apex acute. Petals 4, 5-6 × 1.9-2.1 mm, obovate, white, apex notch 0.5-0.8 mm deep. Floral tube 1—1.2 mm deep, c. 2 mm wide. Ovary 12—14 mm long, green; style c. 2.3 mm long, white; stigma c. 1 × c. 0 4 mm, clavate, white. Stamens 8; anthers 0.5—0.7 × 4-4.5 mm, yellow; filaments white, unequal, longer 2—2.5 mm long, shorter 1—1.2 mm long. Capsule 35—55 × 1.4—1.8 mm, scarlet- red; pedicel 10-24 mm long, scarlet-red. Seeds 1—1.1 × 0.4—0.45 mm, pale brown, papillose but often flat on one surface; proximal end constricted, with acute apex; chalazal end with a very short, inconspicuous, neck; coma 4—5 mm long, white, easily detached. FL Dec-Jan, FT Jan-Mar.

[Reproduced from Heenan (1996, New Zealand J. Bot. 34: 41-45) with permission from The Royal Society of New Zealand.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Naturally uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76.
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. [Naturally Uncommon]
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. [Naturally Uncommon]
Heenan, P.B. 1996: Epilobium petraeum (Onagraceae), a new species of alpine willow-herb from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 34(1): 41–45.