Epilobium parviflorum Schreb.

Robust perennial herb 20–140 cm tall, in autumn producing short-stalked leafy rosettes near base of plant; stems densely pilose with raised lines decurrent from margins of petioles. Lvs opposite below, alternate in upper 1/2, subsessile, dark green, densely covered with long, erect hairs above and below, 3–12 × 1–3.5 cm, narrowly lanceolate to narrowly ovate, denticulate; base rounded or truncate; apex acute. Infl. erect, the hairs mainly glandular. Fls erect. Ovary 1.2–4 cm long, with dense bands of long hairs and erect and shorter glandular hairs, rarely glabrate. Floral tube 1–1.9 mm deep, with a conspicuous ring of long hairs inside. Sepals (2)–3–6 × 1–2 mm, with glandular hairs, keeled. Petals usually rose-purple, rarely white, 3–9 × 2.7–4.8 mm. Filaments of the longer stamens 1.8–3.9 mm long. Style 2.2–4.7 mm long, glabrous, white, sometimes rose-purple towards base; stigma deeply 4-lobed, the lobes 1–1.8 mm long. Capsule with mixed long erect and shorter glandular hairs, rarely subglabrous, 3.5–7 cm long; fruiting pedicel 0.8–1.7 cm long. Seeds 0.9–1 × 0.4–0.5 mm, obovoid, coarsely papillose.

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

Flowering: Dec.–Feb.