Celmisia lindsayi
Common names
Lindsay’s daisy
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledonous composites
Flower colours
White, Yellow
Detailed description
Robust subshrub, low-growing, forming patches up to c.2 m. diameter; stems very stout, branched, up to c.15 mm diameter; branches creeping or ascending, clad in long-persistent reflexed leaves; living leaves in approximate rosulate tufts at ends of branchlets. Lamina coriac., viscid, narrow-oblong to sublanceolate or elliptic, ± 100-150 × 15-25 mm; upper surface without tomentum, lower densely clad in appressed white satiny tomentum, midrib dark, stout, prominent; apex obtuse to subacute; margins sinuate, slightly thickened, entire to remotely denticulate, narrowed to petiole ± 2.5-3.0 × 1•5-2.5 mm. Sheath c.30 × 10 mm, glabrous, coriaceous; nerves parallel, usually prominent. Scape 50-200 mm, slender, flexuous, very sparingly hairy; lower bracts leaf-like, up to c.30 mm long, upper linear. Capitula 25-50 mm diameter; involucral bracts linear, up to 12 mm. long, subfloccose in apical half, midrib distinct. Ray-florets linear, c.12-15 mm long; disk-florets numerous, tubular, c.6-8 mm. long, teeth broad-triangular. Achenes narrow-cylindric, ± compressed, 3-4 mm long; ribs prominent, rather densely clad in short ascending hairs. Pappus-hairs white, becoming ± rufous, up to 6-7 mm long, barbellate
Similar taxa
Closely related to Celmisia bonplandii, an alpine species which is regarded by many botanists as conspecific with C. lindsayi. Pending further investigation both species are maintained as distinct here. Celmisia bonplandii differs from C. lindsayi by its restriction to subalpine and alpine habitats, smaller, wider leaves (40-100 x 15-30 mm cf. 100-150 x 15-25 mm in C. lindsayi); longer, stouter, glabrescent scapes (150-300mm cf. 50-200 mm in C. lindsayi), and mostly shorter achenes (2.5-3.0 mm cf. 3.0-4.0 mm in C. lindsayi).
Distribution
Endemic. South island: From the mouth of the Clutha River to Waikaia.
Habitat
Coastal rocks, on exposed or sheltered but usually south-facing and shaded rock stacks, tors and cliff faces.
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR, Sp
Threats
A Naturally Uncommon, narrow range endemic which is locally common in its few known localities. Some accessible populations have been plundered by plant collectors. However, most populations are in remote areas or extremely inaccessible.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
None
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
October - March
Fruiting
November - May
Life cycle and dispersal
Pappate cypselae are dispersed by wind (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Best grown from fresh seed. Can be grown by dividing established plants. Does best in a shaded site planted within a permanently moist, free draining soil. More easily grown in the southern part of New Zealand
Other information
Cultivation
Occasionally available from specialist native plant nurseries.
Plant of the Month
This plant has been featured as a Plant of the Month – see Trilepidea: NZPCN newsletter for December 2010 for the full story.
Etymology
celmisia: Apparently named after Kelmis, one of Idaean Dactyls, a group of skilled mythical beings associated with the Mother Goddess Rhea in Greek mythology. Kelmis, whose name means ‘casting’, was a blacksmith and childhood friend of Zeus, son of Rhea and later king of the gods. In Ovid’s ‘Metamorphoses’, Kelmis is described as offending Zeus who turned him into adamant so he was as hard as a tempered blade
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.
CELLND
Chromosome number
2n = 108
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR, Sp
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR, Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Range Restricted
Regional conservation statuses
Otago: 2024 | At Risk – Regionally Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT, NS, NStr, RE, RR, St, TL
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Otago conservation status information is sourced from the “Regional conservation status of indigenous vascular plants in Otago” Jarvie S et al. (2024) report.
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I, Government Printer, Wellington.
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 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.