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Browse for a Threatened Plant Species

Search for a Threatened Plant Species

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Lists of nationally threatened plants and fungi

Vascular Plant Lists

Fungi Lists

Definitions

Many of New Zealand's plant species are threatened with extinction or are in such serious decline that their future survival cannot be guaranteed without conservation management. Some plant species, such as the coastal cress Lepidium obtusatum, have already gone extinct. The logo of the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network is an image of Trilepedia adamsii (Adam's mistletoe), another species that has gone extinct.

Many other native plant species are considered naturally uncommon because of a restricted range or because they are rarely found in any great abundance.

This section of the web site is devoted to providing information about New Zealand's nationally threatened and uncommon species. The most acutely threatened species are those in the categories Nationally Critical, Nationally Endangered and Nationally Vulnerable. Chronically threatened species are those in categories Serious decline and Gradual decline. The uncommon species are categorised as Range Restricted or Sparse. Several other categories are also included and these are Extinct, Coloniser, Vagrant and Data Deficient.

For definitions of these terms please refer to the glossary. For information about non-threatened species not included in this section please see the New Zealand Native plants section

Want a list of Threatened Vascular Plants? - (Bryophytes and fungi lists coming soon!)

Definitions of qualifiers

Qualifier Meaning Explanation     Island Endemic Extinct in the wild Exists - only in cultivation or in captivity Conservation Dependent - Likely to move to a higher threat category if current management ceases Data Poor - Confidence in the listing is low due to the poor data available for the assessment Recovering - Total population showing a sustained recovery Stable Total - population stable Secure overseas - Secure in other parts of its natural range outside New Zealand Human Induced - Present distribution is a result of direct or indirect human activity (applies to Range restricted and Sparse) Recruitment Failure - Recruitment failure will result in catastrophic declines in the future Extreme Fluctuation - Extreme un-natural population fluctuations, or natural fluctuations overlaying human induced declines, that increase the threat of extinction One Location - Found at one location (geographically or ecologically distinct area) in which a single event (e.g. a predator irruption) could soon affect all individuals of the taxon Threatened overseas - Also threatened in other parts of its natural range outside New Zealand No Recent Records No Trend Data - Long term information on which to reliably assess population trends does not exist