''Epilobium pycnostachyum'', or scree epilobium, is a
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
of
willowherb Willowherbs are annual or perennial herbaceous plants in the flowering plant family Onagraceae. Willowherb may refer to:
* A species of willowherb in the genus ''Epilobium''
* A species of willowherb in the genus ''Chamaenerion
''Chamaenerion'' ...
that is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...
to
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
. 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
North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating Direction (geometry), direction or geography.
Etymology
T ...
and the
South Island
The South Island ( , 'the waters of Pounamu, Greenstone') is the largest of the three major islands of New Zealand by surface area, the others being the smaller but more populous North Island and Stewart Island. It is bordered to the north by ...
.
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
Heinrich Carl Haussknecht (30 November 1838 – 7 July 1903) was a German pharmacist and botanical collector who was a native of Bennungen, Sachsen-Anhalt.
Trained as a pharmacist, Haussknecht is remembered for collecting and describing numerou ...
in 1879.
The type specimen is from
Whitcombe's Pass, on the
South Island
The South Island ( , 'the waters of Pounamu, Greenstone') is the largest of the three major islands of New Zealand by surface area, the others being the smaller but more populous North Island and Stewart Island. It is bordered to the north by ...
of New Zealand.
References
Endemic flora of New Zealand
pynostachyum
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