Celmisia major var. major
Synonyms
None
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.
CELMVM
Chromosome number
2n = 108
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.
2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: PD, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: PD, Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: HI
2004 | Gradual Decline
Distribution
Endemic. North Island: West Auckland (Muriwai to Cornwallis (formerly Laingholm), Great Barrier Island (near Fitzroy – apparently extinct), Kaikoura Island, Aiguilles Island.
Habitat
Strictly coastal, on rock headlands, cliff faces, and islets, where it usually grows in low turf on peaty or silty soils with Disphyma, Tetragonia and Samolus. Occasionally found in coastal shrublands.
Features
Tufted herb. Leaves (100-150-200(-400) x (5-)10(-20) mm, narrow-linear to lanceolate, tapering from sheath to an acute apex, sulcate, and plicate in cross-section, leathery, upper surface dark green, pellicle thin, often fracturing into irregular shards, leaving leaves with a somewhat silvery green, mottled appearance. Lower leaf surface densely clad in silvery white appressed hairs, midrib distinct and glabrescent. Leaf sheath pale, membranous, 60 mm long, nerves distinct, red or dark red, margins clad in floccose hairs. Inflorescence scape stout, long persistent, 200 mm or more in length, pellicled to floccose (cottony). Capitula 20-40 mm diam., phyllaries 20 mm, linear-subulate, acuminate, ciliate, glabrous on upper surface. Ray-florets white, numerous, 20 mm long. Disk florets yellow, 9 mm, funnelform, teeth narrow-triangular. Achenes narrow-cylindric, grooved, glabrescent 6-7 mm, pappus hairs 8 mm, white, slender, somewhat barbellate.
Similar taxa
The taxonomy of northern lowland Celmisia spp. (all allied to the variable C. gracilenta and C. graminifolia complexes) is in need of revision. Accurate distinction of C. major from its allies is difficult, and currently the treatment offered in Allan (161, Flora of New Zealand Vol. 1) will not adequately distinguish this species from other variants within the complex. Within its range, C. major is the only species which occurs within lowland coastal habitats.
Flowering
(August-) October-November (-February)
Flower colours
White, Yellow
Fruiting
(October-) December (-May)
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh seed and the division of whole plants. Prefers moist soils, with a sunny aspect, free from weeds Easy from fresh seed and the division of whole plants. Prefers moist soils, with a sunny aspect, free from weeds.
Threats
Habitat loss through the encroachment of taller and faster growing weeds, and coastal erosion. Several accessible populations have been damaged by trampling through human traffic to access popular viewing sites on headlands and near shore islets. Some sites have vanished altogether through, it would seem, overcollecting. Apparently always scarce on Great Barrier Island, this daisy now only persists in that island group in a single site on a very remote northerly location.
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
major: Greater
Notes on taxonomy
Field work and herbarium evidence suggests that C. major is more closely linked to C. adamsii var. rugulosa, which in turn seems to be a later heterotypic synonym for C. graminifolia Hook.f., itself a much misunderstood species. The status of C. major var. brevis, an Mt Egmont endemic is not clear, it is certainly not close to var. major. Further critical study into this matter is urgently needed.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared by P.J. de Lange (1 February 2009). Description adapted from Allan (1961)
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I, Government Printer, Wellington.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Celmisia major var. major Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/celmisia-major-var-major/ (Date website was queried)