Gentianella chathamica subsp. chathamica
Common names
Chatham Island gentian
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2023 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: IE, RR
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Simplified description
Slender or stout plant up to 24 cm tall, all parts hairless. Plants arising from a rosette of somewhat fleshy ovate green, olive green, maroon-tinged or maroon leaves. Stem leaves smaller than rosette leaves, sessile. Inflorescence of 1-50 (or more), white, white-crimson or pink-tinged, rarely pink or magenta “tulip-like” flowers, the petals with pale green, or crimson veins.
Flower colours
Red/Pink, White
Detailed description
Plants monocarpic, biennial, height in flower 90–235 mm. Caudex unbranched, stolons absent. Root 1.0–3.3 mm diameter at stem base. Flowering stems terminal only or terminal and lateral, 1–15 per plant, largest flowering stem 2.1–2.3 mm diameter at base, stems tinted crimson, lateral flowering stems erect, flowering stem leaves 1–3 pairs per stem, lowest pedicels from near base of flowering stem. Rosette of leaves distinct to not very distinct from flowering stem leaves; leaves ovate, 21–31 × 7–22 mm, tinted crimson above and below, flat or V-shaped, not recurved, apex acute or rounded; petiole distinct, c.9.5 × 0.6–3.0 mm. Flowering stem leaves ovate, sessile. Pedicels 1 per leaf axil, 5–20 mm long, 0.5–0.8 mm diameter. Flowers 5–50 per plant, 6–12 mm long. Calyx 4.6–7.5 mm long, green, hairs at calyx–corolla fusion line present; lobes 4.7–5.7 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide at base, plane, apices acute or obtuse, margins smooth, sinus hairs absent or sparse. Corolla 5.1–11.8 mm long, white with crimson or pink tinting, rarely pink or magenta, veins pale or crimson coloured; tube 2.5–3.2 mm long; lobes 5.0–8.6 mm long, 2.7–5.2 mm wide, hairs below sinus present; nectary 0.9–1.2 mm from corolla base. Filaments 2.3–6.6 mm long from corolla base, 0.4–0.7 mm wide. Anthers 0.5–1.4 mm long, anther wall purple-red, mouth yellow or orange-red, introrse or extrorse at anthesis; pollen orange. Female flowers absent. Stigma colourless. Ovules 22–60 per ovary. Capsule 6.7–12.5 mm long.
Similar taxa
The only Gentianella present on the Chatham Islands. It is separated from G. chathamica subsp. nemorosa (https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/gentianella-chathamica-subsp-nemorosa/) by plants mostly having a single flowering stem; 25-60 ovules per ovary; anthers that are 0.5–1.4 mm long; and a colourless stigma. The relationship to subsp. nemorosa seems somewhat ambiguous and it is more likely that subsp. chathamica is related to the other subantarctic gentians. Gentianella chathamica subsp. nemorosa is probably better treated as a distinct species.
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: Chatham Islands, Rekohu | Wharekauri | Chatham, Rangihaute | Rangiauria | Pitt Island.
Habitat
Coastal to inland, where it is widespread in open peatlands, restiad bog, bracken fernland overlying peat and within poorly drained pasture
Threats
A Naturally Uncommon, range-restricted island endemic under no obvious threats. Being unpalatable to stock it is often abundant in marginal farmland.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
Gentiana chathamica Cheeseman, Chionogentias chathamica (Cheeseman) L.G.Adams, Gentianella chathamica (Cheeseman) T.N.Ho et S.W.Liu; Chionogentias pleurogynoides var. umbellata Kirk
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
July – February
Fruiting
August - May
Propagation technique
Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
FAC: Facultative
Commonly occurs as either a hydrophyte or non-hydrophyte (non-wetlands).
Other information
Etymology
gentianella: Little Gentiana (named after Gentius, 6th century king of Illyria, who found the roots of the yellow gentian to have a healing effect on his malaria-stricken troops)
chathamica: From the Chatham Islands
Chromosome number
2n = 36
Previous conservation statuses
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel 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: IE, RR
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: IE, RR
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: IE
2004 | Range Restricted
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Glenny, D. 2004: A revision of the genus Gentianella in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42: 361-530.
Attribution
Fact Sheet for NZPCN prepared by P.J. de Lange (1 November 2004). Description modified from Glenny (2004)