Acaena microphylla var. pauciglochidiata
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Simplified description
An evergreen shiny green and or bronze herb, which forms a dense mat spreading up to ½ a metre across and about 2 cm in height. The plant is in general a small species of the genus. Found in the central North Island in unconsolidated substrates like river gravels. The pinnate leaves are sharply toothed and have tiny hairs on the tips. The globe shaped flower balls are white and lack stems then grow into a cluster of red hair-tipped spikes, which when ripe brown off.
Flower colours
White
Detailed description
Rhizomatous, prostrate, trailing perennial herb, forming a mat up to 0.5 metres in diameter. Stems 1 mm diameter, up to 25 cm long, and/or 2 cm high, rooting at nodes; Stipules entire; Leaves odd-pinnate, between 5-30 mm long with 9-15 leaflets; Leaflets orbicular 1.5-4 × 1.5-4 mm, serrated blunt-toothed margin, 5-7 teeth minutely hair-tipped, lower leaflets gradually reduce in size, green or bronze shiny upper surface obvious veins, lower surface paler and sparsely hairy; Inflorescence scape stemless, nestled amongst foliage; Capitulum about 5 mm diameter when flowering, up to 30 mm diameter including spines, composed of up to 2-4 florets, each floret has 4 sepals, 2 stamen, white anthers, 2 white styles, 2 achenes; Fruit roughly cone-shaped, each having 4 pink or crimson pointed firm hair-tipped or naked spines, up to 15 mm long, which mature dry, brown or golden brown when ripe.
Similar taxa
Distinguished from other Acaena species by its mat-forming growth and leaflets that are green or bronze above.
From Acaena microphylla var. microphylla it is distinguished by its fruiting heads hidden among leaves, 2–4 fruits with pale red spines bearing a few stiff hairs at tip or naked.
Distribution
Endemic. South Island: Central Otago, Otago peninsula, Southland coast. Stewart Island/Rakiura, between Ruggedy and Hellfire. Dog Island.
Habitat
Coastal to montane (0-800 m.a.s.l.), riparian gravels, and coastal gravels and sand.
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 – Declining | Qualifiers: Sp, DPT, RR
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
November-January.
Fruiting
January-April.
Other information
Etymology
acaena: From the Greek ‘akanthos’ thorn, referring to the spiny calyx that many species have
microphylla: Small leaf
pauciglochidiata: 'pauci' meaning few, 'glochidiata' meaning barbed, referring to the few barbs on the fruits of this variety.
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.
ACAMVP
Chromosome number
2n = c.42
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 – Declining | Qualifiers: DP, RR, Sp
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Range Restricted
Regional conservation statuses
Otago: 2025 | Regionally Threatened – Regionally Endangered | Qualifiers: CI, DPS, DPT, NR, NStr, PF, RR, Sp
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Otago conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation Status of Indigenous Vascular Plants in Otago, 2025” Jarvie S et al. (2025) report.
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Webb CJ, Sykes WR, Garnock-Jones PJ. 1988. Flora of New Zealand, Volume IV. Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons. Botany Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Christchurch, NZ. 1365 p.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (13 December 2022). Brief description, Distribution, Habitat, Features, and Similar taxa sections copied from Webb et al. (1988).
Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.