Ewartiothamnus sinclairii
Common name
Ewartia
Synonyms
Gnaphalium sinclairii Hook.f., Ewartia sinclairii (Hook.f.) Cheeseman,
Family
Asteraceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
Yes
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledonous composites
Chromosome number
2n = 28
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley. Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp
2004 | Range Restricted
Distribution
Endemic. South Island, Marlborough, where it is virtually confined to streams draining into the upper Awatere and Clarence River Catchments
Habitat
Steep rocky gorges, usually on dry, cliff sides overhanging streams and rivers. Occasionally on boulders within streams, or amongst short tussock on steep, rubble strewn slopes.
Detailed description
Perennial subshrub up to 0.8 m tall, much-branched from stout woody stock. Main branches c.3 mm diameter at woody base, clad in sub-appressed to floccose white tomentum, becoming glabrous. Branchlets slender, spreading to ascending, densely white-tomentose, terminated by cymose close clusters of capitula. Leaves imbricate, c.6-10 × 2 mm, spreading from sheathing base, lanceolate- to obovate-spathulate, obtuse, hardly diminishing in size to base of inflorescence, densely clad on both surfaces in white felted tomentum. Capitula c.6 × 4 mm, in clusters of c. 25 forming a head 15-20 mm diameter. Pedicels short, stout, bracts usually aristate. Involucral bracts numerous, 2-seriate; outer with floccose tomentum on back near hardened base, acute to aristate; inner less hairy, c.4 mm long, oblong, with white erect to subradiate tips. Achenes fusiform, hardly 1 mm long, glabrous or nearly so; pappus-hairs c. 3 mm long, thickened and papillose at tips, minutely scaberulous at base.
Similar taxa
Superficially similar to Anaphalioides from which it differs by the conspicuous investiture of white to silvery-white hairs which cover all parts of the plant except the florets. Allan (1961) artificially aligned it with Helichrysum from which it differs by the thick covering of hairs and fusiform achenes.
Flowering
October - February
Fruiting
November - April
Life cycle
Pappate cypselae are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh seed and cuttings. However difficult to grow in humid climates. Does best in full sun in a free draining, deep soil.
Threats
A naturally uncommon species which is locally common within its geographically restricted range. Most populations are small, and some might be vulnerable to flooding, land slips and possibly browsing animals.
Etymology
sinclairii: After Sinclair (c. 1796–1861). Colonial Secretary and naturalist.
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Attribution
Description adapted from Allan (1961)
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I, Government Printer, Wellington.
Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285-309