Centrolepis pallida
Common name
centrolepis
Synonyms
Gaimardia pallida Hook.f.; Alepyrum pallidum (Hook.f.) Hook.f.; Pseudalepyrum pallidum (Hook.f.) Dandy
Family
Restionaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Monocots
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.
CENPAL
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. New Zealand: North (Central Volcanic Plateau, and Ruahine Range), South (Otago, Southland and Fiordland), Auckland and Campbell Islands
Habitat
Montane to alpine in bogs descending to near sea level in the subantarctic islands.
Features
Dense, pale or bright green, moss-like cushions. Roots comparatively thick, but < 0.5 mm diameter Stems 15–40 mm long. Leaves 6–9 mm long, < 0.5 mm. wide, distichous, equitant at the base, closely imbricate up the stem, lamina stiff, erect, glabrous, subulate, laterally compressed or occasionally channelled, narrowed to an acute or occasionally shortly acicular tip; leaf-sheaths c.½ length of lamina, very pale cream, membranous, without ligule or auricles. Flowering stems about equal leaves in length. Floral bracts 2, ± opposite, unequal in length, the lower larger. Pseudanthia, 1 in each floral bract, or 1 bract without pseudanthium; male 1 only, in the lowermost pseudanthium, at maturity the filament elongated excessively and the anther far exserted; female 1–3(-4) in each pseudanthium; hyaline scales 0. Seed ± 0.5 mm long, oblong-obovate, apiculate at one end.
Micron test: µ
Similar taxa
Recognised by the pale or bright green, moss-like, cushion forming, perennial rather than annual growth habit and pale or bright green, densely imbricating glabrous leaves.
Flowering
December – January
Fruiting
January - March
Life cycle
Seeds are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.
Etymology
centrolepis: Pointed scale
pallida: From the Latin pallidus ‘pale or pallid’
Where To Buy
Not commercially available.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 14 August 2006. Description adapted from Moore & Edgar (1970)
References and further reading
Moore, L.B.; Edgar, E. 1970: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. II. 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
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Centrolepis pallida Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/centrolepis-pallida/ (Date website was queried)