Callitriche aucklandica
Synonyms
None
Family
Plantaginaceae
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.
CALAUC
Chromosome number
2n = 40
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: IE, RR, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: IE, RR, Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: IE
2004 | Range Restricted
Distribution
Endemic. Auckland Islands only
Habitat
Coastal to montane on exposed, in pools and on sodden peat, in heavy shade under shrubs and tussocks. Often near bird colonies but also common on exposed mud within forest and scrub.
Detailed description
Perennial, creeping bright green to dark green fleshy to membranous herb. Stems rather lax, sparwling up to 300 mm long. Leaves on broad, membranous fused petioles; lamina fleshy, 3.6-8 x 1.2-4 mm, dark green to bright green, spathulate. Flowers solitary or in pairs, ebracteate. Filaments to 9 mm long, tapering from broad base. Mericarps more or less elliptic, obovate-elliptic or obovate, laterally compressed, 1.0-1.6 mm long; surface colliculate or reticulate, dull, pale ornage-yellow, medium to light brown or grey brown.
Similar taxa
Closest to C. antarctica Hegelm from which it differs by its larger size, fleshy rather than succulent leaves, lax rather than erect branches, broad, connate petioles smaller leaves (3.6-8 x 1.2-4 cf. 2.5-10 x 1.5-4.8 mm), and keeled and winged rather than rounded mericarps.
Flowering
October - November
Fruiting
November - April
Life cycle
Mericarps possibly by water and attachment (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Probably easy. However it is currently not in cultivation.
Threats
Not Threatened. Listed because it is endemic to the Auckland Islands. On these islands it is abundant.
Etymology
callitriche: From the Greek kalli ‘beautiful’ and thrix ‘hair’, referring to the beautiful stems
aucklandica: Of the Auckland Islands
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): Callitriche aucklandica Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/callitriche-aucklandica/ (Date website was queried)