Citation: Sol. ex Cunn., Ann. Nat. Hist. 3:34 (1839).

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Showy willow-herb.

Description:
Perennials rarely higher than 70 cm, with few branches mainly from a rhizome-like base, with adventitious roots from the nodes, with a few more or less appressed hairs at the base but becoming denser on the inflorescence; leaves opposite becoming alternate on or near the inflorescence, sessile, oblong-oblanceolate, 3-7 x 0.4-1 cm, acute., cordate to almost auriculate, with few to many often widely spaced serrations or teeth, with a few appressed hairs restricted mainly to the veins and the margins.

Inflorescence slightly nodding but with erect flowers borne singly in the axils of the leaf-like bracts; pedicels 0.5-1 cm or to 2 cm long when fruiting; floral tube to 2 mm long; sepals linear-lanceolate, 5-7 mm long, with appressed hairs; petals obovate, 7-12 mm long, with a terminal notch 1-3 mm deep, white often tinged pink or rose-purple; stamens in 2 whorls of different length; styles about as long as the longer stamens, with a scarcely lobed stigma.

Capsule 5-9 cm long; seeds densely covered with papillae.

Published illustration: Raven & T. Raven (1976) New Zealand D.S.I.R. Bull. 216:fig. 35.

Distribution:  Along river banks or in swamps and marshes. S.Aust.: MU, SL, SE.   W.Aust.; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas..   New Zealand. Conservation status: native Flowering time: mainly Nov. — March.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: Hybrids between E. pallidiflorum and E. hirtigerum have been recorded from S.Aust.

Author: Not yet available