Epilobium vernicosum
Synonyms
Included by Raven & Raven (1976) within a broad circumscription of Epilobium glabellum G.Forst.
Family
Onagraceae
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.
EPIVER
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). 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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Data Deficient
Distribution
Endemic to the western side of the South Island of New Zealand where it is known only from North West Nelson to South Westland.
Habitat
Montane to subalpine screes and rock outcrops.
Features
Stout herb with woody base. Branches up to 20 cm long, reddish-green, numerous, decumbent at base, then ascending, erect at tips. Leaves (6-)15(-20) × (3-)8-10) mm, narrow-oblong to ovate-oblong, margins obscurely toothed, very glossy, dark green, often reddish. Flowers pink 12-20 mm diameter, with the broad petals deeply lobed. Capsules hairless, 15-25 mm long. Seeds brown 0.8-1.4 mm.
Similar taxa
This species is closely allied to E. glabellum - with which it was placed by Raven & Raven (1976). It differs from that species and those allied to it by its ecological preference for base-rich rocks (e.g., limestone, marble), it decumbent habit, very glossy leaves, and much larger, pale pink, deeply lobed flowers.
Flowering
December - February
Flower colours
Red/Pink, White
Fruiting
January - April
Life cycle
Minute pappate seeds are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easily grown from seed and rooted pieces of stem.
Threats
Always considered uncommon (Allan 1961). Although it would seem unlikely to be seriously threatened the exact status of this species throughout its range is uncertain, a situation exacerbated because it is treated by Raven & Raven (1976) and Webb et al. (1988: Flora 4) as part of the range of variation exhibited by the very common E. glabellum. This has meant that most recent field surveys have not specifically recognised it.
Etymology
epilobium: From the Greek epi- ‘upon’ and lobos ‘a pod’, the flowers appearing to be growing on the seed pod.
vernicosum: Polished
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by P.J. de Lange for NZPCN (1 June 2013)
References and further reading
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): Epilobium vernicosum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/epilobium-vernicosum/ (Date website was queried)