Aciphylla cartilaginea
Family
Apiaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
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.
ACICAR
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). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By 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.
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Range Restricted
Brief description
Low thick-leaved orange-green spikey clumps on Stewart Island
Distribution
Endemic. Stewart Island. Mt Rakeahua and Tin Range south to Smith’s Lookout
Habitat
Subalpine boggy grassland and herbfield
Features
Low-growing cartilaginous-leaved herb. Rosettes single to several, closely-spaced. Leaves 6-9 cm long; pinnae stiff, usually in 2 pairs, 3-4 cm long x 2.5-3 mm wide, grooved; midrib conspicuous, broad, yellow; margins thick, obvious, yellow; apex pungent. Flowering stems to 20 cm tall but usually shorter particularly in male plants, appearing thick for size of plant, orange, umbels 5-6, crowded, more spreading in female plants and on obvious rays, in males flower barely exceeding bract sheath; sheaths broad. Fruit consisting of 2 mericarps; mericarps (3.0-)3.5-5.5 mm, mostly with 5 ribs and single internal vittae
Similar taxa
Closest in similarity to A. kirkii of Central Otago which does not have such obvious thickened margins to the leaf and whose range does not overlap with A. cartilaginea
Flowering
December
Fruiting
February-March
Etymology
aciphylla: From the Latin acicula ‘needle’ and the Greek phyllum ‘leaf’, meaning needle-leaf.
cartilaginea: Like cartilage
Attribution
Description adapted from Allan (1961), Webb and Simpson (2001), Wilson (1996) and Wilson (1982).
References and further reading
Alla, H. H. (1961).Flora of New Zealand, Volume 1: Indigenous Tracheophyta - Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledons. Botany Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Wellington, New Zealand.
Webb, C.J. & Simpson, M.J.A. 2001. Seeds of NZ gymnosperms and dicotyledons. Manuka Press, Christchurch
Wilson, H.D. 1996. Wild plants of Mount Cook National Park. Manuka Press, Christchurch
Wilson, H.D.1982. Stewart Island plants. Whitcoulls Ltd, Christchurch