Jovellana repens

Jovellana repens is a perennial herbaceous plant which grows into a mat 1–2 m in diameter. It has 2–3 cm long dark red or green stems with 1–4 cm long leaves suspended from 5–12 by 2–2.3 mm hairy petioles. The leaves are dark green to reddish green above and pale green to light red below. It has inflorescences with one to five, usually two to three, flowers partially obscured by the foliage, with nude pedicels. The flowers are 6 mm in diameter and have 1–2 mm long sepals. They are white with small purple spots on the inside and have two concave lips.

It fruits from October to February, producing a 0.35–0.5 mm long dark red-brown seed concealed inside ovoid (egg-shaped) 6–7 mm seed capsules. They are dispersed by wind but also possibly by water.

Jovellana repens grows in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand from Mt Pirongia and Te Moehau in the east and west, south. It grows in shady spots on the sides of streams but also on banks and cliffs in lowland to montane forest.

Jovellana honours the 18th century patron of botany Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos and repens is from the Latin repere meaning to creep, which describes the way in which it grows.