Blindia seppeltii
Common name
Moss
Synonyms
None (first described in 1986)
Family
Seligeriaceae
Flora category
Non-vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Mosses
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR, ?SO
Previous conservation status
2004 | Range Restricted
Distribution
Endemic. Auckland, Campbell and Macquarie Islands.
Detailed description
Autoicous moss up to 60 mm long, glossy, yellow-brown to olive-green when terrestrial, dark-brown to black when aquatic, forming mats or cushions. Stems with thick-walled outer stem cells, central strand present. Leaves erect-flexuose to falcate-secund, similar to spreading-erect when moist, lamina 5.0-8.0 mm long from an oblong-lanceolate base, more or less gradually narrowed to a long slender subula, acute, subula at least 2-3x as long as lamina; margins entire; nerve 40-100 microns wide, well defined, filling the subula. Upper cells 25-100 x 6-10 microns, rectangular-elongate, thick-walled, clear and distinct. Lower cells 35-120 x 6-10 microns, rectangular-elongate, thick-walled, clear and distinct. Alar cells 20-40 x 10-18 microns, not or poorly differentiated, rectangular-oblong, mostly hyaline, thin-walled, basal cells decurrent. Perichaetial leaves broader near base and quickly narrowed to subula. Seta 5,0-13.0 mm long, variable in length, very stout, thick, usually rigid, flexuose to erect when moist and dry, brown to black. Capsules 1.0 x 1.0 mm, small hemispheric-obovate when moist, when old turbinate to obconic, rarely hemispheric, black, variably exserted, Exothecial cells 20-50 x 10-25 microns, elliptic to narrowly rectangular, most longer than wide, thick-walled, pachydermous, rim cells quadrate-rounded, not oblate. Stomates not seen. Peristome of 16, lanceolate,a cute teeth, well-developed, fragile and often missing on old capsules. Operculum conic rostrate, beak more or less oblique. Spores 16-40 microns.
Fruiting
Although fruit has been seen insufficient information exists to provide any details on the timing of fruiting
Threats
Not Threatened. Listed because it is a naturally uncommon, range restricted species.
Substrate
Saxicolous and terricolous on mosit rocks, within seepages and submerged within lakes.
Notes
This species is treated as endemic because although found on Macquarie Island which is part of geopolitical Australia, Macquarie Island is part of the New Zealand Botanical Region(see de Lange & Rolfe 2010).
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (6 November 2007). Description adapted from Bartlett & Vitt (1986).
References and further reading
Bartlett,J.K.; Vitt, D. H. 1986: A survey of the species in the genus Blindia (Bryopsida, Seligeriaceae). New Zealand Journal of Botany 24: 203-246.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R. 2010: New Zealand Indigenous Vascular Plant Checklist. Wellington, New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. 164pp.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Blindia seppeltii Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/blindia-seppeltii/ (Date website was queried)