Disphyma clavellatum
Common name
jellybeans
Synonyms
Mesembryanthemum clavellatum Haw.; Disphyma crassifolium subsp. clavellatum (Haw.) Chinnock; Disphyma blackii Chinnock; Disphyma crassifolium (L.) L.Bolus; Mesembryanthemum crassifolium L.
Family
Aizoaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
DISCLA
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 | Non-resident Native – Coloniser | Qualifiers: SO
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Non-resident Native – Coloniser | Qualifiers: SO
2009 | Non-resident Native – Coloniser | Qualifiers: SO
2004 | Non-resident Native – Coloniser
Distribution
Indigenous: New Zealand, South Island (Waimea Inlet and Riverton Estuary). Present in Australia
Habitat
Saltmarsh and estuaries - often in places flooded at high tide.
Detailed description
Trailing, succulent herb. Stem prostrate, terete, glabrous. Leaves terete or weakly 3-angled, obtuse and mucronate at apex, clavate, tapering to shortly connate base, 5-50 × 4-5-10 mm; margins papillate. Flowers 20-40 mm diameter. Calyx glabrous; sepal keels smooth. Petals purple with white base (bases turning purple when dry), in 2 rows, 10-30 mm long. Stamens 5-7 mm long; filaments hairy at base; anthers whitish yellow. Capsule 5-12 mm diameter, valves with widely divergent expanding keels; placental tubercle 2-lobed. Seeds pale brown to brown, weakly rugose or smooth, c.1 mm long.
Similar taxa
Distinguished from the other New Zealand species by the terete or weakly 3-angled, clavate, obtuse, finely mucronate leaves; petals in 2 rows, these purple with a white base (the base turning purple on drying); and by the placental tubercle 3-lobed.
Flowering
November - January
Flower colours
Violet/Purple, White
Fruiting
December - April
Propagation technique
Easily grown from rooted pieces, division of whole plants and fresh seed.
Threats
Not Threatened. Presumed to be a relatively recent i.e. last 50 or so years, natural arrival from Australia
Etymology
disphyma: Two-nodule
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Attribution
Description based on Webb et al. (1988)
References and further reading
Webb, C. J.; Sykes, W. R.; Garnock-Jones, P. J. 1988: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. IV. Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons. 4. Christchurch, New Zealand, Botany Division, D.S.I.R.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Disphyma clavellatum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/disphyma-clavellatum/ (Date website was queried)