Argyrotegium mackayi
Synonyms
Raoulia mackayi Buchanan, Gnaphalium traversii var. mackayi (Buchanan) Kirk, Gnaphalium mackayi (Buchanan) Cockayne, Euchiton mackayi (Buchanan) Anderb.
Family
Asteraceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledonous 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.
ARGMAC
Chromosome number
2n = 28
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 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. North Island: Ruahine and Tararua Ranges; South Island: throughout Stewart Island: Mt Anglem only
Habitat
Montane to alpine bogs, herbfield and grassland, often in wet sites and commoner in wetter areas
Features
Perennial herb with much-branched stems terminating in leafy rosettes and usually forming mats, 10-70 mm tall. Leaves mostly in basal rosettes; basal leaves cuneate to short petiole, densely white-tomentose on both surfaces including mid-vein but usually excluding petiole on upper, plane, elliptic to broad-elliptic or spathulate, usually obtuse, sometimes acute, mucronate, 3-20 × 2-6 mm; cauline leaves 1-few, apetiolate, reduced upwards and becoming ovate-triangular to linear, amplexicaul and finally scalelike. Capitula c.2-4 mm diameter, usually solitary, very rarely 2 together; subtending leaves < capitula; scape terminal, simple, erect, amongst leaves at flowering, usually elongating somewhat at fruiting. Involucral bracts elliptic-oblong, obtuse to subacute, 4.5-6.0 mm long; stereome green or tinged reddish purple at apex; lamina pale brown, with darker band at base; gap and margins clear or tinged reddish purple. Achenes glabrous, c.1.2 mm long
Similar taxa
Both Argyrotegium mackayi and A. nitidulum are mat-forming species with solitary terminal flowers. Argyrotegium nitidulum is distinguished from A. mackayi by the leaf hairs which are more or less straight, antrorse, appressed and glossy rather than tangled and white.
Flowering
October - February
Flower colours
Green, Yellow
Fruiting
December - April
Life cycle
Pappate cypselae are dispersed by wind (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by P.J. de Lange for NZPCN (1 June 2013)
References and further reading
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
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Argyrotegium mackayi Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/argyrotegium-mackayi/ (Date website was queried)