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NOTES ON SOME PLANTS OF OTAGO, NEW ZEALAND. 323
5. E. rotundifolium, Forst. Banks of the stream, Abbott's creek,
Greeuisland, 5-6 in. high ; November, in flower, W. L. L. Stems
under 6 in. high, puberulent, but puberulence only well-marked supe-
riorly (on young shoots). Leaves glabrous on both surfaces, sometimes
with traces of puberulence. Central leaves (about centre of stem), as
usual in the Otago Epilobia, larger than upper and lower ones. Longest
leaves about ^ in. long, and somewhat less in breadth. Outline of
leaf sometimes suborbicular. Margin sinuate-serrate ; teeth sharper
than in the other Otago species above mentioned ;
but unequally or ir-
regularly so, as is also usual in the New Zealand Epilobia. Leaves
opposite, so shortly petioled as to become sometimes, in the upper
and lower parts of the plant, subsessile. I have never seen the leaves
uniform in size and form throughout the plant. Flower whitish.
Thouirh I did not mvself meet with others, T believe there are few of
the 17 New Zealand species of Epilobium that do not occur in Otago.
Genus IL Hypericdm.
ITiere are only two New Zealand species, both of which occur in
Otago. These species are connected by pm^age-forms, and the remarks
which I have had occasion elsewhere* to make regarding the problem
of unity or plurality of species in certain genera of Otago plants are
very applicable here. I am disposed to consider H. Japonicum as
merely a dwarf, straggling, procumbent, slender condition of H. gra-
mineum.
1. H. gramineum, Forst. Chain Hill ranges, common ; Uplands
arouud Sloneyhill ; December, in flower, TV. L. L. Generally 6-8 in.
high, growing in tufts. Resembles in general aspect the British H.
linariifolium, Vahl. My specimens have as great a tendency to pro-
cumbency as Japonicum. Branches about 6 in. high : 4-angled character
not always distinct. Leaf oblong-lauceolate, with revolute margin ;
generally under \ in. long, and \-\ in. broad. Frequently acquires in
drying various shades of buff or brown. Flowers 2 or 3 ; peduncles
subdivided (branching secondarily) or simple. Sepals in herbarium
assume the orange-red tint of the corolla.
2. E. Japonicum, Thunb. Eanges about Finegand, Lower Clutha,
abundant; December, in flower, W. L. L. Generally 3-4 in. high,
* 'Contributions to New Zealand Botany' (1868), p. 102: illustrations in
the genera Aciphylla, Geranium, Crualtheria, Wahlenhergia, Veronica, Sophora,
Phormium, Coriaria.