| Stems decumbent, bifariously pubescent, 4–8 in. Leaves oblong or oblong-ovate, obtuse, coriaceous, glossy, ¼–¾ in. Flowers very large, ¼–¾ in. | 21. E. vernicosum. |
| Stems numerous, decumbent, 2–8 in. Leaves densely crowded, linear-oblong, coarsely denticulate, ½–¾ in. Flowers sessile, large, white, crowded, ⅓ in. Capsules almost hidden by the leaves | 22. E. pycnostachyum |
| Stems numerous, rigid, erect, black. Leaves crowded, linear-oblong, deeply toothed or almost lobed, ¼–⅔ in. Flowers small, 15 in. Capsules glabrous | 23. E. melanocaulon. |
| Stems numerous, erect, 2–6 in., grey with fine pubescence. Leaves crowded, linear-oblong, coarsely toothed. Capsules suddenly narrowed below the tip, finely pubescent | 24. E. rostratum. |
| Stems numerous, rigid and wiry, purplish-black, 3–8 in. Leaves small, uniform, ovate-obicular, entire, 18–15 in. Capsules silvery-pubescent on the angles | 25. E. microphyllum. |
| Stems numerous, short, 2–6 in. Leaves oblong-ovate, entire, ⅓–½ in. Flowers small, 15 in. Capsule glabrous | 26. E. Krulleanum. |
| Stems numerous, erect, 6–14 in. Leaves oblong or linear-oblong, obtuse, often reddish, sinuate-denticulate, ⅓–¾ in. Flowers 16–14 in. Capsules on short peduncles | 27. E. glabellum. |
| Stems branched, erect, 3–9 in. Leaves narrower than in E. glabellum, pale-green. Flowers 15 in. Capsules on peduncles that slightly elongate | 28. E. novæ-zealandiæ. |
1. E. pallidiflorum, Sol. ex A. Cunn. Precur. n. 550.—Stems leafy, terete, 1–3 ft. high, decumbent and rooting at the base and emitting numerous stolons, erect above, simple or branched, glabrous below, finely puberulous above. Leaves 1–4 in. long, opposite or the uppermost alternate, often semiamplexicaul, sessile or nearly so, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate or linear-oblong, gradually tapering to an acute point, irregularly denticulate or almost entire, glabrous or the margins puberulous. Flowers usually numerous towards the ends of the branches, large, handsome, ¾ in. diam., white or pale-rose. Calyx-lobes half as long as the corolla, lanceolate, acute. Petals obcordate. Stigma oblong-clavate. Capsules 2–4 in. long, finely and densely hoary-pubescent; peduncles shorter than the leaves. Seeds minutely papillose.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 61; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 81; Benth. Fl. Austral. iii. 305; Haussk. Monog. Epilob. 292; Kirk, Students Fl. 169. E. macranthum, Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 297.
North and South Islands, Chatham Island: Abundant in marshes from the North Cape to Foveaux Strait. Sea-level to 1500 ft. November–February. Also in Australia and Tasmania.
A very distinct species, readily known by the large size, long acute leaves, and large white flowers.
2. E. chionanthum, Haussk. in Oestr. Bot. Zeitschr. xxix. (1879) 149.—Stems slender, 1–2 ft. high, decumbent and stoloniferous at the base, ascending above, simple or rarely branched, terete, glabrous below, usually thinly puberulous above. Leaves all opposite except the floral ones, distant, ¾–1½ in. long, sessile or nearly so, ovate-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or subacute,
