Ditrichum brachycarpum
Common name
Moss
Synonyms
Ditrichum calcareum (R.Br.bis) Broth.
Family
Ditrichaceae
Flora category
Non-vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Current conservation status
- Conservation status of New Zealand mosses, 2014 (PDF, 583.87 kB)
The conservation status of 109 New Zealand moss taxa was assessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). Four taxa and one undescribed entity that were not included in previous assessments have been added to the list. The conservation status of only two taxa has changed in this assessment. A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for mosses. Authors: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Allan J. Fife, Jessica E. Beever, Patrick J. Brownsey and Rodney A. Hitchmough.
- Conservation status of New Zealand hornworts and liverworts, 2014 (PDF, 695.44 kB)
The conservation status of the New Zealand hornwort and liverwort flora is reassessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the most important changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for New Zealand hornworts and liverworts which previously had been part of a generic bryophyte conservation status assessment that included mosses. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, David Glenny, John Braggins, Matt Renner, Matt von Konrat, John Engel, Catherine Reeb and Jeremy Rolfe.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2009 | Data Deficient | Qualifiers: OL, TO
Previous conservation status
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Critical
Distribution
Indigenous. In New Zealand known only from Canterbury (near Lake Coleridge, Castlehill and near Castlehill Village) and from the Rock & Pillar Range. New Zealand is imperfect and it is not clear if the gatherings so named are actually this species, further recent surveys at some of sites where it had been recorded have failed to locate further specimens
Detailed description
Saxicolous, densely tufted moss of mostly calcareous substrates. Stems 10 mm or more tall, simple or branched. Leaves 1.5-2.0 mm long, crowded, appressed, rigid, erect or sub-erect, from a widened oblong base narrowed, in the upper leaves rather abruptly but in the lower ones gradually, to a rigid subula. Nerve wide and thick, 100-120 µm wide at the base, deep orange-red, vanishing in the subula. Cells narrow-linear throughout. Setae 2.5-4.0 mm long. Capsule oblique, inclined, ovate-oblong, slightly narrowed to the mouth, annulate. Peristome single, long filiform, granulate, united at the base into a short tube. Operculum 1/5 length of capsule, united at the base into a short tube. Calyptra cucullate. Antheridia gemmiform, axillary.
Fruiting
Although fruit has been seen insufficient information exists to provide any details on the timing of fruiting
Threats
Very vulnerable to competition from weeds, trampling by rock climbers and mining/quarrying for lime and limestone rock. There is some evidence that this species may have declined markedly since rock climbing became more popular in the Castlehill basin (see also Grimmia plagiopoda)
Substrate
Saxicolous on limestone and chlorite schist rocks. Montane to alpine.
Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange (6 October 2010).