Euchiton audax
Common names
creeping cudweed
Biostatus
Native
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledonous composites
Detailed description
Stoloniferous perennial; stems 1-few, usually ascending, sometimes erect, usually simple, rarely sparingly branched, (2)-5-20-(40) cm tall. Lvs usually mostly basal at flowering; basal lvs short-petiolate, densely white-tomentose on lower surface usually including mid-vein, usually moderately to densely, sometimes sparsely tomentose on upper, plane, narrow- to broad- obovate or oblanceolate, long-cuneate, usually obtuse, sometimes acute, shortly mucronate, (5)-15-40-(60) × (2)-5-12 mm; cauline lvs usually becoming much reduced upwards, often oblong, acute, finally apetiolate and broad-based. Capitula c. 1-2 mm diam., (5)-8-numerous in dense ± globular terminal clusters, very rarely smaller axillary clusters below; longest subtending lvs 0.5-1.5× diam. of cluster. Involucral bracts elliptic to oblong-elliptic, obtuse to subacute, 3.5-4 mm long; stereome green, sometimes tinged reddish purple toward apex; lamina yellow to pale brown or orange; gap and margins usually tinged pinkish purple, sometimes clear. Achenes minutely papillate, c. 0.7 mm long.
Similar taxa
E. audax is very similar to E. ruahinicus but is distinguished by the broader, more often obtuse basal leaves, less leafy stems, shorter leaves subtending the terminal inflorescences, and generally paler bract lamina. See E. ruahinicus factsheet for more information. E. japonicus is also similar but differs by having bright green leaves that are sparsely hairy on the surface and have three nerves on the underside.
Habitat
Grassland, forest margins and clearings, coastal sites, scrubland, rock outcrops, riverbeds, pasture, waste places.
A species of lowland to subalpine elevations favouring dry short tussock grassland communities dominated by Poa cita or more commonly Festuca novae-zelandiae. This aster is also associated with other native and introduced grasses such as Rytidosperma clavatum. Anthoxanthum odoratum and Lachnagrostis sp. and is repeatedly found in grazed pastureland and turfy banks. As an opportunist plant it also frequents other dry open niches such as rock outcrops. scrub, riverbeds. tracks and cuttings. and occasionally turns up as a weed in crevices in paths and roads in urban areas. Plants are not common along the coasts and then restricted to cliff areas.
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 | Not Threatened
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Gnaphalium audax D.G.Drury, Euchiton audax (D.G.Drury) Anderb. (nom. illegit.)
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Life cycle
Pappate cypselae are dispersed by wind and water (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]
FACU: Facultative Upland
Occasionally is a hydrophyte but usually occurs in uplands (non-wetlands).
Other information
Etymology
euchiton: From the Greek eu (good) and chiton (tunic or covering)
audax: Bold
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.
EUCAUD
Chromosome number
2n = 28
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | Not Threatened
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Drury, D. G. 1972. The cluster and solitary-headed cudweeds native to New Zealand:(Gnaphalium Section Euchiton-Compositae). New Zealand journal of botany, 10(1), 112-179.
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.
Webb, C.J.; Sykes, W.R.; Garnock-Jones, P.J. 1988: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. IV. Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons. Botany Division DSIR, Christchurch.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (13 December 22). Brief description, Distribution, Habitat, Features, and Similar taxa sections copied from Drury (1972) & 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.