Ceratocephala pungens
Biostatus
Native
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
Yellow
Detailed description
Tiny, tufted, rossett-forming, annual herb 1.5-2 cm tall. Leaves 4-8 x 3-10 mm, grey-green, finely woolly-hairy, spathulate in outline, trilobed, each lobe divided 2-3 times, into oblong segments. Flowers solitary, unstalked or on short stalks 2-5 mm long. Sepals 4-5 mm, linear-oblanceolate, woolly beneath. Petals yellow, as long as sepals, linear-oblanceolate. Achenes (fruits) 20-30, 3-4 x 1.5 mm, woolly-hairy; keel flattened, triangular, beak 1-1.5 mm, erect, straight and slender, tapering into a spine.
Similar taxa
None
Distribution
Endremic. South Island, Mackenzie Basin and Central Otago. Formerly known from the upper Waitaki River where it appears to be extinct.
Habitat
A species of dry open ground, often amongst scabweed (Raoulia spp.) matts.
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.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – these interim threat classification statuses has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- 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 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT, EF, PD
Threats
At serious risk of extinction. The open scabweed habitats this species requires have, following the near demise of rabbits (as a consequence of the release of Rabbit calcivirus) been replaced by taller introduced and indigenous grasses. These grasses have all but replaced the relatively open habit Ceratocephala requires, so quickly that whole populations have disappeared within one growing season. If this trend continues unchecked then Ceratocephala pungens is likely to become extinct within the next 5-10 years.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Ranunculaceae
Synonyms
None
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
October - December
Fruiting
November - March
Life cycle
Spiny achenes are dispersed by attachment and possibly granivory (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.
Other information
Extra information
This unusual species is the only southern hemisphere representative of an otherwise northern hemisphere genus.
Etymology
pungens: Sharp-pointed
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.
CERPUN
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DP, EF, PD
2012 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DP, EF
2009 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: EF, DP
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Critical
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
de Lange, P.J.; Heenan, P.B.; Norton, D.A.; Rolfe, J.R.; Sawyer, J.W.D. 2010: Threatened Plants of New Zealand. Christchurch, Canterbury University Press. 471pp.
Garnock-Jones, P.J. 1984: Ceratocephalus pungens (Ranunculaceae), a new species from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 22: 135-137
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
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 1 September 2003. Description adapted from Garnock-Jones (1984) - see also de Lange et al. (2010).
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Ceratocephala pungens Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/ceratocephala-pungens/ (Date website was queried)