Celmisia sinclairii
Common name
Sinclair’s mountain daisy
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.
CELSIN
Chromosome number
2n = 108
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). 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.
2012 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. South Island: Nelson and Marlborough from the Richmond Range and Wairau Mountains south to the St Arnaurd Range and upper Clarence.
Habitat
Montane to subalpine. Mainly in grassland and herbfield. Occasionally on rock outcrops
Features
Small low-growing subshrub with stems branching from near base; branches short, ascending to spreading, clad in persistent leaf-remnants; living leaves rosulate at tips of branchlets. Lamina bright green, glabrous on both surfaces, ± 50-70 × 15 mm, obovate, obovate-elliptic to elliptic-spathulate, membranous; lower surface with conspicuous midrib; apex obtuse to subacute, apiculate; margins entire to obscurely denticulate, gradually narrowed to short petiole, then expanded into striate, glabrous, thin sheath ± 25 × 6 mm. Scape slender, almost glabrous, ± 150 mm long; bracts linear-subulate, 8-9 mm long, ± ciliolate. Capitula 30-40 mm diameter; involucral bracts linear-subulate, spreading, ± ciliolate at apex. Ray-florets numerous, linear, c. 8-12 mm long, obtuse. Disk-florets narrow-funnelform, c.5-6 mm long. Achenes silky-hairy on ribs. Pappus-hairs up to 6 mm long, slender, barbellate
Similar taxa
Recognised by the glabrous leaves when form rosulate tufts at the branchlet tips
Flowering
November - February
Flower colours
White, Yellow
Fruiting
December - April
Life cycle
Pappate cypselae are dispersed by wind (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Unknown. Probably best grown from fresh seed and like many Celmisia this species will probably dislike high humidity and drying out
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
sinclairii: After Sinclair (c. 1796–1861). Colonial Secretary and naturalist.
Where To Buy
Not Commercially available.
Attribution
Description adapted from Allan (1961)
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 11: 285-309