Flowers are solitary, usually less than 5 mm long

Flowers are solitary (one per flowering stem), usually less than 5 mm long.

• Left: tepals are twice the length of capsule. In this image, Marsippospermum gracile has 1-3 leaves per shoot, floral bracts are smaller than tepals, and seeds are tailed; found in the South Island in moist alpine herbfield, and on Auckland and Campbell Islands. 
• Right: tepals are the same size or smaller than the capsule. In this image, Rostkovia magellanica has many leaves per shoot, floral bracts are bigger than tepals, and seeds are not tailed; found in the South Island in mountainous areas of Fiordland and Otago, and on Stewart, Auckland and Campbell Islands. 

[Trevor James, AgResearch / Kerry Bodmin, NIWA]