Epipterygium opararense
Common names
Moss
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Current conservation status
This is the first complete assessment of all known species of mosses found in the wild in Aotearoa New Zealand with a total of 560 species being assessed. The conservation status of mosses, published in the NZTCS database, replaces all previous assessments of mosses. Data supporting the 2025 NZTCS assessment of mosses has been published on the NZTCS database at https://nztcs.org.nz/reports/1155.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2025 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT
Category
Non-vascular
Structural class
Mosses
Detailed description
Pale green or brownish green apparently dioicous moss with metallic sheen when dry. Stems pale yellowish or reddish brown, several arising from a common point near base, unbranched up to 15 mm tall, 180-210 micrometre diameter, base with nearly smooth yellowish brown rhizoids. Leaves distichously arranged, asymmetric (especially toward base), 1.5-2.1 x 0.7-0.85 mm, broadly elliptic from a narrow base, apex broadly acute, reducing in size toward stem base; margins plane, entire rarely finely crenulate, apex often bluntly toothed; costae 1/3-2/3 length of leaves, broad more or less diffuse at base, rarely branched, cell of upper lamina thin walled posenchymatous 90-195 x 21-30 micrometre, at margins firmer-walled, linear, 225-270 micrometre long. Perichaetia terminal, leaves somewhat narrower than vegetative, others similar, archegonia 5-8 lacking paraphyses. Perigonia and sporophytes unknown.
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand, South Island, near Karamea
Substrate details
On root plates of Lophozonia menziesii growing on granitic alluvium in south west Kahurangi National Park. Also known from vertical and overhanging surfaces of granite boulders.
Threats
Known from only one extant location where it is very vulnerable to human traffic, plant collectors and flooding. Previously collected from another more distant location in 1981 from where it has not been seen since.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
None
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Fruiting
Capsules unknown
Other information
Previous conservation statuses
This is the first complete assessment of all known species of mosses found in the wild in Aotearoa New Zealand with a total of 560 species being assessed. The conservation status of mosses, published in the NZTCS database, replaces all previous assessments of mosses. Data supporting the 2025 NZTCS assessment of mosses has been published on the NZTCS database at https://nztcs.org.nz/reports/1155.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2014 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DP, DPS, DPT
2009 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: OL
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Critical