Epilobium hirtigerum
Content
Description
Robust, erect, clumped perennial herb, 15-100 cm, the underground parts not scaly;
Inflorescence erect.
Flowers erect, borne in the axils of upper leaves.
Sepals 3-5.5 by 0.8-1.6 mm.
Petals obovate, 3-5 by 2-3.2 mm, white or very pale pink, the notch c. 1 mm deep.
Capsule 3-5(-6) cm long, on a pedicel 0-2 cm.
Seeds 0.9-1.2 mm long, 0.35-0.45 mm thick, finely papillose, brown, not beaked, obovoid, blunt at both ends, the coma 5-8 mm long, white.
Distribution
Argentina present, Asia-Tropical, Australasia, East Java present, Lesser Sunda Is present, Lombok present, Mt Tengger present, New Zealand present, South America present, Southern America: Brazil South (Santa Catarina present); Uruguay (Uruguay present), Sumbawa present, Timor present
Very widely distributed, South America (Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil: Santa Catarina), New Zealand, Australia, and Malesia: Lesser Sunda Is. (Timor, Sumbawa, Lombok) and East Java (Mt Tengger).
Notes
Variable species. The Malesian specimens belong to a highly autogamous Australian form with small white flowers which occurs in swampy places throughout the lowlands of Australia (from Queensland to temperate W. Australia and Tasmania) and is predominant in New Zealand. I have assumed that it came there from Australia and has spread again from New Zealand to South America, either by natural dispersal or by man.
Citation
ALLAN 1961 – In: Fl. New Zeal.: 279
BURBIDGE & GRAY 1970: Fl. A.C.T.: 276
BACK. & BAKH. f. 1963 – In: Fl. Java: 262
RAVEN 1976: p. 141. – In: D.S.I.R. New Zeal. Bull.: f. 63-64, 65-66 (maps).
HAUSSKNECHT 1884: Monogr. Epilob.: 291
H. LEVEILLE 1910: Ic. Gen. Epilob.: t. 18
WILLIS 1972 – In: Handb. Pl. Vict.: 464