Brownseya serpentina
Common name
Bog clubmoss
Synonyms
Pseudolycopodiella serpentina (Kunze in Lehm.) Holub; Lycopodium serpentinum Kunze, L. drummondii Spring, Lycopodium carolinianum Hook.f., Lycopodiella serpentina (Kunze) B.Øllg.
Family
Lycopodiaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lycophytes (clubmosses, selaginella, quillworts)
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.
LYCSER
Current conservation status
The threat classification 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. 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. Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – a suggested threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2018 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable | Qualifiers: DP, RR, TO
2012 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered | Qualifiers: DP, RR, TO
2009 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable | Qualifiers: PD, RR, TO
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable
Distribution
Indigenous to New Zealand. Formerly known from Kaimaumau and Motutangi Swamps and the Karikari Peninsula in the far north, and from Opuatia, Rukuhia, Komakorau and Moanatuatua Peat Bogs in the Waikato. Now known only from Ahipara and the Karikari Peninsula in Northland (it may still survive in Kaimaumau) and the Whangamarino wetlands and Kopouatai Peat Bog in the Waikato. Extremely uncommon in Australia, where the best populations known are now found in Tasmania. Possibly extinct in New Caledonia.
Habitat
A coastal or lowland species. It is confined to naturally open nutrient starved, permanently damp ground or sites recently cleared by fire. It is intolerant of competition from taller plants. In New Zealand Brownseya serpentina is usually found in restiad-dominated peat bogs where it grows in open situations amongst mosses and liverworts. It has also been collected from water saturated clay within gum land at Ahipara.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland).
OBL: Obligate Wetland
Almost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands (non-wetlands).
Features
Yellow-green to green, prostrate, shortly creeping clubmoss, forming diffuse patches to compact turf depending on local habitat conditions. Roots stout, peg-like, white. Main stems 20-200 mm long forking, rooting at intervals. Aerial stems unbranched, 30-60 mm long, invariably surmounted by fertile cones. Sterile leaves spirally arranged, 0.4-0.6 mm long, linear, appressed, loosely imbricating on prostrate stems, spreading on aerial stems. Cones up to 30 mm long, solitary and terminal, erect, sessile, green when immature, turning yellow-green on maturity.
Similar taxa
This species could be confused with nutrient-starved forms of Lateristachys lateralis which commonly grows in association with Brownseya serpentina. From Brownseya, Lateristachys lateralis differs by the non-stalked (or shortly so) cones borne on sides of the erect stems.
Flowering
Cones can be present throughout the year but they are more commonly seen between August and May
Flower colours
No flowers
Fruiting
Cones can be present throughout the year but they are more commonly seen between August and May
Propagation technique
Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.
Threats
Wetland drainage, stock trampling, fertiliser run-off from adjacent farmland, and vegetation succession on the less acidic Whangamarino are significant threats. The species is also a frequent target of fern collectors.
Etymology
brownseya: Honouring Dr. Patrick J. Brownsey (1948–) based at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand, for his floristic and taxonomic study of pteridophytes of New Zealand and neighboring regions
Taxonomic Notes
Brownseya, currently a monotypic Australasian (Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand) genus was erected by Chen et al. (2021) to accommodate this morphologically aberrhant clubmoss, the basis for the decision, has a firm basis in molecular as well as morphological evidence, and is followed here.
Where To Buy
Not commercially available.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange December 2003. Description adapted from Chinnock (1998) and Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth (2000).
References and further reading
Brownsey, P.J.; Smith-Dodsworth, J.C. 2000: New Zealand Ferns and Allied Plants. Auckland, David Bateman
Chen, D-K.; Zhou, X-M.; Rothfels, C.J.; Shepherd, L.D.; Knapp, R.; Zhang, L.; Lu N, T.; Fan, X-P.; Wan, X.; Gao, X-F.; He, H., Zhang, L-B. 2021: A global phylogeny of the Lycopodiaceae (Lycopodiales; lycophytes) with the description of a new genus, Brownseya, from Oceania. Taxon. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.12597
Chinnock, R.J. 1998: Lycopodiaceae. Flora of Australia 48: 66-85.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Brownseya serpentina Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/brownseya-serpentina/ (Date website was queried)