Disphyma australe subsp. stricticaule
Common name
Kermadec Ice plant
Synonyms
None
Family
Aizoaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than 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.
DISASS
Chromosome number
2n = 36
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) – 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.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. 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. 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: IE
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: IE, RR
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: OL, IE
2004 | Range Restricted
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: Kermadec Islands.
Habitat
Coastal. On rock stacks, cliff faces, banks, cobble and boulder beaches, or in the vicinity of bird nesting grounds. Widespread and common.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
UPL: Obligate Upland
Rarely is a hydrophyte, almost always in uplands (non-wetlands).
Detailed description
Trailing, succulent herb. Stem terete, glabrous. Short shoots erect or nearly so, rarely rooting at nodes. Leaves 3-angled, linear-lanceolate to oblong, acute, often mucronate, tapering to connate base, 6–40 × 4–9 mm; margins papillate. Flowers 20–40 cmm diameter. Sepal keel papillate. Petals uniformly white to deep pink, in 3–5 rows, 10–30 mm long. Stamens 4–6 mm long; inner filaments hairy at base. Stigmas (5)–6–8–(10). Capsule valves 5–(6), with parallel or ± divergent expanding keels; placental tubercle rounded or 0. Seeds brown, obovoid, rugose, c. 1 mm long.
Similar taxa
Distinguished from the other New Zealand species except the Chatham Island endemic D. papillatum Chinnock, by the leaf margin and sepal keel papillate, by the short shoots mostly ascending, rarely rooting at nodes, and by the 5 rarely 6 capsule valves. From D. papillatum it differs by its ascending short shoots, which rarely root at the nodes, terete rather than 2-angular, smooth rather than papillate stems, absence of a placental tubercle, and weakly rugose rather than papillate seeds.
Flowering
Throughout the year
Flower colours
Violet/Purple, White
Fruiting
Throughout the year
Propagation technique
Easy from rooted pieces. Does best in a well drained fertile soil in full sun.
Threats
Not threatened within its small geographic range
Etymology
disphyma: Two-nodule
australe: Southern, from the Latin australis
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Attribution
Description modified from Webb et al. (1988)
References and further reading
Webb CJ, Sykes WR, Garnock-Jones PJ. 1988. Flora of New Zealand, Volume IV. Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons. Botany Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Christchurch, NZ. 1365 p.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Disphyma australe subsp. stricticaule Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/disphyma-australe-subsp-stricticaule/ (Date website was queried)