Brachyscome humilis
Synonyms
None (first described in 1943)
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.
BRAHUM
Chromosome number
2n = 36-37, 37
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) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. 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. 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: DP, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp
2009 | Data Deficient
2004 | Range Restricted
Distribution
Endemic. South Island: Central Otago (Rock and Pillar Range)
Habitat
Alpine. Inhabiting snowbanks and hollows above 1200 m.
Features
Perennial rosette herb, often forming loose mats. Leaves apetiolate, narrow- spathulate, mostly entire, rarely with 1-2 pairs of shallow teeth near apex, obtuse, glabrous, 5.0-10.0 × 1.0-1.5 mm. Peduncle naked, glabrous except for few glandular hairs below capitulum, 30-45 mm long and 0.3-0.6 mm diameter at flowering, elongating to up to 70 mm at fruiting. Involucral bracts elliptic to narrow-oblong, obtuse and fimbriate to apex, glabrous except for few glandular hairs at base, 2.5-3.0 mm long. Rays 12-22, white, c.3-5 mm long. Disc yellow. Achenes obovoid-oblong, compressed, eglandular, c.1.5 mm long; pappus of bristles c.0.3 mm long
Similar taxa
Perhaps most similar to B. linearis - which is a species of marginal turf communities around lakes Te Anau, Manapouri and the Mavora Lakes. From that species it differs by its ecology (alpine in snow banks and hollows), larger flowers on longer scapes, hairy capitula and achenes, and longer ray florets.
Flowering
December – February
Flower colours
White
Fruiting
January - April
Life cycle
Pappate cypselae are dispersed by wind (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.
Threats
Unclear. Probably a Naturally Uncommon species however this species remains very poorly known and until a comprehensive survey is undertaken ascertaining the exact conservation status of this species remains guesswork. It for this reason that it has been listed as Data Deficient. Furthermore, the status of similar plants found on the ultramafics of West Dome and the Livingston Range needs investigation
Etymology
brachyscome: From Greek brachys ‘short’ and comus ‘hair’, refers to the lack of papys on the fruit
humilis: Lowest, dwarf, small, slight
Attribution
Description from: Webb et al (1988)
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
Webb, C. J.; Sykes, W. R.; Garnock-Jones, P. J. 1988: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. IV. Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons. 4. Christchurch, New Zealand, Botany Division, D.S.I.R.