Eryngium vesiculosum
Common names
sea holly
Biostatus
Native
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
Violet/Purple
Distribution
Possibly endemic. New Zealand: North Island (Manawatu and eastern Wairarapa coastline south), South Island (mainly east of the main divide).
Australian plants, which include the type may not be same as the New Zealand species.
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.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – these interim threat classification statuses has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- 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 – Declining | Qualifiers: Sp, CI, DPS, DPT, RR, SO
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Apiaceae
Taxonomic notes
New Zealand plants may be an unnamed, endemic species. Further research is required. Certainly it is clear that some of the Australian plants referred to this name are not the same as the type. Further research is required.
Endemic taxon
Indeterminate
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Life cycle and dispersal
Spiny mericarps are dispersed by attachment and wind (Thorsen et al., 2009).
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]
FAC: Facultative
Commonly occurs as either a hydrophyte or non-hydrophyte (non-wetlands).
Other information
Plant of the Month
This plant has been featured as a Plant of the Month – see Trilepidea: NZPCN newsletter for April 2010 for the full story.
Etymology
eryngium: From the Greek eryngion, a type of spiny-leaved thistle resembling sea holly
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.
ERYVES
Chromosome number
2n = 64
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable | Qualifiers: DP, RR, SO, Sp
2012 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: DP, SO, Sp
2009 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: DP, SO, Sp
2004 | Gradual Decline
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Thorsen MJ, Dickinson KJM, Seddon PJ. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285–309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2009.06.001.