Dracophyllum scoparium
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Simplified description
Grassy bright green shrub with many erect twigs bearing clusters of narrow pointed straight leaves are covered on the margin and upper surface with many very small inhabiting Chatham and Campbell Islands. Leaves 30–50 × 0.5–1 mm. Flowers white, in clusters of 3–6 at tip of twigs.
Flower colours
White
Detailed description
Erect multi–stemmed shrub to small tree, 1–4(–5) m tall. Bark on old branches dark brown to blackish brown, finely fissured, young stems reddish brown. Leaves erect to spreading; lamina sheath 2.0–5.0 × 1.5–4.0 mm, shoulders tapering to truncate and margins membranous and ciliate; lamina 24.0–80.0 × 0.3–1.5 mm, linear to linear–subulate, adaxial surface pubescent, slightly striated; margins ciliate to densely pubescent with 100–120 teeth per 10 mm; apex triquetrous. Inflorescence a terminal spike on lateral branches; shorter than leaves, erect, dense, 13–20 mm long, oblong; inflorescence bract over-topping flower, 1.8–2.0 × 0.9–1.0 mm, ovate–lanceolate at base, adaxial surface glabrous, pubescent at apex; abaxial surface pubescent at base; margins ciliate. Flowers 3–6, sessile; bracts over-topping flowers, 5.0–9.5 × 2.5–4.0 mm, broadly ovate, adaxial surfaces pubescent; margins ciliate. Sepals 2.5–5.0 × 1.5–3.5 mm, oblong, equaling to longer than corolla tube, striate, surfaces glabrous with the top half pubescent; margins ciliate; apices acute to acuminate. Corolla white (rarely pink or cream); corolla tube 3.0–3.5 × 1.3–1.5 mm, cylindrical; corolla lobes reflexed, 1.7–2.5 × 1.2–2.0 mm, triangular, shorter than corolla tube, apex inflexed and acute; adaxial surface papillate. Stamens inserted on corolla tube in the upper third, filaments 0.3–0.5 mm long; anthers included, rectangular, light yellow and 0.9–1.0 mm long. Ovary 0.8–1.0 × 0.9–1.0 mm, obovate, apex round; nectary scales 0.6–0.7 × 0.5–0.6 mm, rectangular, apices subacute to obtuse; style included, 0.95–1.0 mm long, glabrous, not lengthening in fruit; stigma five–lobed. Fruit 1.8–2.0 × 2.1–2.5 mm, obovoid, light brown, apex round, glabrous. Seeds 0.7–0.8 mm long ovoid, light brown, testa slightly reticulate.
Similar taxa
On the Chatham Islands Dracophyllum scoparium can only be confused with D. arboreum, especially when D. arboreum grows on the margins of the restiad bogs that D. scoparium favours. From D. arboreum, D. scoparium differs by its smaller shrub - tree growth habit (up to 5 m cf. 15 m tall), smaller bronze-green to red-green, juvenile foliage, the fact that juvenile plants often flower, the lack of reversion shoots on adult shrubs, and by the upper leaf surface which is tomentose rather than pubescent. Dracophyllum scoparium is confined to restiad bogs where it forms shrubs or small trees up to 5 m high. In disturbed habitats it frequently hybridises with D. arboreum. On Campbell Island D. scoparium grows with D. cockayneanum which differs by its much longer yellow-green leaves. With respect to the other New Zealand Dracophyllum, D. scoparium is morphologically similar to D. filifolium, from which it differs in having smaller leaves (30.0–50.0 × 0.6–1.0 mm compared to 60.0–130.0 × 1.0–1.5 mm), lamina pubescence on the adaxial surfaces (not glabrous). The inflorescence bract is subulate with pubescent abaxial surfaces and the adaxial surface of the flower bract is pubescent not glabrous. The sepals are striate and longer than the corolla tube (not equaling and smooth) with the top half pubescent not glabrous. The corolla tube is narrower (1.3–1.5 mm compared to 1.8–2.5 mm) with longer (2.0–2.5 mm compared to 1.5–2.0 mm) triangular corolla lobes having papillate not glabrous adaxial surfaces, smaller nectary scales and an obovate not subglobose ovary.
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: Chatham Island (Rēkohu) and Campbell Island/Motu Ihupuku. Dracophyllum scoparium has been reported from Pitt Island (Rangiauria) (Venter 2021) but there is no suitable habitat there and there do not seem to be substantiating herbarium specimens. Only tarahinau (Dracophyllum arboreum) seems to grow there, and it is possible that past records of D. scoparium from Rangiauria may stem from confusing young shrubs of tarahinau with that species.
Habitat
The dominant woody shrub of Chatham Island (Rēkohu) restiad bogs and Campbell Island/Motu Ihupuku vegetation—where it has a wider range.
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: RR
Threats
Abundant within its known habitats, and hardly at risk. Often regenerates profusely following fire on Chatham Island (Rēkohu).
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
D. scoparium var. paludosum (Cockayne) Cockayne, Dracophyllum paludosum Cockayne; Dracophyllum urvilleanum var. scoparium Hook.f.; Dracophyllum subantarcticum Cockayne nom. nud.
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
Throughout the year
Fruiting
Throughout the year
Propagation technique
Difficult - should not be removed from the wild
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]
OBL: Obligate Wetland
Almost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands (non-wetlands).
Other information
Etymology
dracophyllum: Dragon leaf, from its likeness to the dragon tree of the Canary Islands
scoparium: Like a broom
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.
DRASCO
Chromosome number
2n = 26
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: RR
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Range Restricted
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Venter S. 2021. A taxonomic revision of the Australasian genera Dracophyllum and Richea (Richeeae: Styphelioideae: Ericaceae). Australian Systematic Botany 34: 1–205. https://doi.org/10.1071/SB19049.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN b P.J. de Lange (8 June 2012). Description adapted from Venter (2021)
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Dracophyllum scoparium Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/dracophyllum-scoparium/ (Date website was queried)