Aciphylla hookeri
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Detailed description
Tufted sparse-leaved herb up to 30 cm tall, stock usually simple, taproot stout. Leaves up to approximately 20 cm long, 2-1 pinnate. Sheath very thin, approximately 70 x 10 mm, narrowing gradually to apex; stipules approximately 10 mm long, simple or sometimes with accessory segments; petiole crenulate-serrulate, approximately 40 mm long; lower internodes rather distant. Primary pinnae up to 20 mm long, with 1-(2) pairs of pinnules; all segments keeled, grooved, pungent, giving a squarrose appearance. Flowering stems sometimes leafy below, stout, grooved, up to 30 cm long including narrow paniculate inflorescence approximately 150 mm long. Bracts usually many, leaflike, up to approximately 100 mm long; sheaths roughly 50 mm long; stipules up to 10 mm long, unequal, acicular; lamina pinnate, approximately 50 mm long, segments pungent. Umbels several, on 5-10 unequal slender rays less than bracts. Umbellules small, on short slender rays. Fruit approximately 4-5 mm long, mericarps with 3-5 wings.
Similar taxa
Aciphylla anomala is similar in habit, but differs by longer thicker petioles (80 x 2 mm) and leaflets (100 x 2.5 mm); flower bract stems have shorter stipules (5 mm).
Distribution
Endemic. South Island, North-west Nelson to Aurthur’s Pass mostly on western side.
Habitat
Low-alpine (900-1400 m.a.s.l.) uncommon, snow tussock-herbfield.
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 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Taxonomic notes
Dawson & LeComte suggest this species is part of the group with clear juice. They note it may also be seen to hybridise; A. hookeri x A. indurata seen at Mt. Bovis, reported by W. R. B. Oliver; A. hookeri x A. townsonii seen in the Lyell Range, reported J. W. Dawson (In the last case the probable hybrids were growing in large patches of granite boulders and were so varied that they must include back crosses).
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
December – February (-March)
Fruiting
January – April
Life cycle and dispersal
Winged schizocarps are dispersed primarily by wind (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Other information
Etymology
aciphylla: From the Latin acicula ‘needle’ and the Greek phyllum ‘leaf’, meaning needle-leaf.
hookeri: Named after Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker (born 1817) - a world famous botanist who travelled on the Antarctic expedition of 1839 under the command of Sir James Ross and wrote “Handbook of New Zealand Flora” published in 1864-67 describing many specimens sent to Kew by collectors. He died in 1911 and has a memorial stone at Westminster Abbey London.
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.
ACIHOO
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 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: DP
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Allan, H. H. 1961. Flora of New Zealand. Vol. 1. Wellington: Government Printer. pg. 476-477.
Dawson, J.W. LeComte, J.R. 1978. Research on Aciphylla - a progress report. Tuatara 23: pg. 49-67.
Mark, A. F. 2012. Above the Treeline: A Nature Guide to Alpine New Zealand. Craig Potton Publishing, Nelson. pg. 148.
Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 2009 Vol. 11 No. 4 pp. 285-309
Attribution
Description adapted by M. Ward from Allan (1961).
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.