Epilobium pycnostachyum


Epilobium pycnostachyum, or scree epilobium, is a species of willowherb that is endemic to New Zealand. It grows exclusively on scree slopes on mountains.

Description

A small herb with a few branches that spread out and then up. The leaves are a dull green, and glabrous and have deep teeth on the margins. The flowers are white, or red and pink.
The seeds are wind-dispersed.

Range and habitat

Epilobium pycnostachyum is known from both the North and the South Island. It is restricted to mountain ranges, where it grows in scree fields and unstable, rocky environments.
It is not considered threatened.

Etymology

Pycnostachyum means 'densely spiked'.

Taxonomy

It was described by Heinrich Carl Haussknecht in 1879. The type specimen is from Whitcombe's Pass, on the South Island of New Zealand.