Epilobium macropus
{{Short description|Species of flowering plants}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2025}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Epilobium_macropus_Hook._(AM_AK331059-2).jpg
| image_caption = Epilobium macropus in Tongariro
| image_alt = White flowers on a green field of leaves
| status = NT
| status_system = NZTCS
| genus = Epilobium
| species = macropus
| authority = Hook.
}}
Epilobium macropus is a species of small flowering plant, endemic to New Zealand.{{cite web |title=Epilobium macropus |url=https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/401704-Epilobium-macropus |website=iNaturalist |access-date=18 February 2025 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Epilobium macropus Hook. {{!}} Plants of the World Online {{!}} Kew Science |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:612028-1 |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Plants of the World Online |language=en}}
Description
A small, mat-forming plant that grows in very wet environments. Small green ovate leaves, with white flowers, which are present from November to March.{{Cite web |title=Flora of New Zealand {{!}} Taxon Profile {{!}} Epilobium macropus |url=https://www.nzflora.info/factsheet/taxon/Epilobium-macropus.html |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=www.nzflora.info}}
The orange-brown coma can distinguish this Epilobium from others in New Zealand, except for the closely related Epilobium chionanthum. To distinguish from that plant, look for small hairs all over the stems, and opposite leaves on most of the plant except for an alternating pattern near the tips. Fruiting pedicels longer than 30mm are also distinctive.{{Cite web |title=Epilobium macropus |url=https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/epilobium-macropus/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=New Zealand Plant Conservation Network |language=en}}
Distribution and habitat
Epilobium macropus grows on very wet surfaces, and floats on the water of moving streams in montane and alpine areas.{{Cite web |title=Epilobium macropus Hook. - Flora of New Zealand Series |url=https://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/taxa/f8a92398-d3b0-4b30-80c7-c6243371a3b4 |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Flora of New Zealand Series}} It is known exclusively from both islands, although only montane regions in the North Island.
Ecology
It is eaten by introduced ungulates{{Cite journal |last=Forsyth |first=D. M. |last2=Coomes |first2=D. A. |last3=Nugent |first3=G. |last4=Hall |first4=G. M. J. |date=2002-01-01 |title=Diet and diet preferences of introduced ungulates (Order: Artiodactyla) in New Zealand |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03014223.2002.9518316 |journal=New Zealand Journal of Zoology |volume=29 |issue=4 |pages=323–343 |doi=10.1080/03014223.2002.9518316 |issn=0301-4223}} (including possibly by chamois{{Cite journal |last=Parkes |first=John P. |last2=Forsyth |first2=David M. |date=2008 |title=Interspecific and seasonal dietary differences of Himalayan thar, chamois and brushtail possums in the central Southern Alps, New Zealand |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24058100 |journal=New Zealand Journal of Ecology |volume=32 |issue=1 |pages=46–56 |issn=0110-6465}}), as well as by brushtail possums.