Disphyma papillatum
Common names
Chatham Island ice plant
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
Red/Pink, White
Detailed description
Trailing, succulent herb. Stem flattened, 2-angled, glabrous. Leaves 3-angled, acute, tapering to connate base, 4-30 × 5-6 mm; margins papillate. Flowers 20-40 mm diameter. Petals uniformly white, pink, dark blue or purple, in 3-5 rows, 10-30 mm long. Stamens 5-6 mm long; inner filaments hairy at base. Stigmas 5(-6). Capsule valves with widely divergent expanding keels; placental tubercle present, 2-lobed or reduced to a ridge. Seeds yellowish brown to brown, obovoid, distinctly papillate, c.1 mm long.
Similar taxa
Distinguished from the other New Zealand species by the papillate rather than smooth, 2-angular rather than terete stems, and distinctly papillate rather than rugose or smooth seeds.
Distribution
Endemic: Chatham Islands: Rekohu (Chatham), Rangiuaria (Pitt), Rangatira (South East), Mangere, Little Mangere, Rabbit, Castle, Forty Fours, Star Keys, Sisters and Western Reef
Habitat
Abundant on coastal rocks, cliffs and gravels, often in very exposed, inhospitable sites.
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.
- 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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: IE, RR
Threats
Not Threatened: Abundant on coastal cliffs, rock stacks, cobble beaches, on offshore islands, and around petrel burrows in open coastal forest.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
None - was once considered part of the normal variation exhibited by D. australe
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
July - May
Fruiting
Present throughout the year
Life cycle and dispersal
Fleshy capsules are dispersed by frugivory and possibly wind and water (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easy from rooted pieces and fresh seed. Does best in full sun, within a damp, well drained and fertile soil
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).
Other information
Etymology
disphyma: Two-nodule
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.
DISPAP
Chromosome number
2n = 36
Previous conservation statuses
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.
- 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.
2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: IE, RR
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: IE, RR
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: IE
2004 | Range Restricted
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Webb, C. J.; Sykes, W. R.; Garnock-Jones, P. J. 1988: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. IV. Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons. 4. Christchurch, New Zealand, Botany Division, D.S.I.R.
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
Description based on Webb et al. (1988)
Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Disphyma papillatum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/disphyma-papillatum/ (Date website was queried)