Euchiton ensifer
Common name
creeping cudweed
Synonyms
Gnaphalium ensifer D.G.Drury, Euchiton ensifer (D.G.Drury) Anderb. (nom. illegit.)
Family
Asteraceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledonous 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.
EUCENS
Chromosome number
2n = 28
Current conservation status
The threat classification 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) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website 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. Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – a suggested threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered | Qualifiers: DP, PD, RR, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered | Qualifiers: PD, RR, Sp
2009 | Data Deficient
2004 | Sparse
Distribution
Endemic. North and South Islands. In the North Island known from the Kaingaroa Plain (Matea Road) and Kaimanawa Ranges. In the South rather locally distributed from Nelson south to Southland but not, apparently in Westland.
Habitat
Montane to alpine in damp sites, particularly tarn and other ephemeral pond margins, or in seepages and flushes within tussock grassland. Sometimes on stream banks.
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).
FACW: Facultative Wetland
Usually is a hydrophyte but occasionally found in uplands (non-wetlands).
Features
Stoloniferous, creeping perennial. Stems 1-4(-6), decumbent to ascending, spreading, simple, 20-100 mm tall. Leaves mainly basal; these short-petiolate, 13-50 x 1-5 mm, narrow-elliptic to linear, cuneate, acute, mucronate, densely covered in closely appressed white indumentum on lower surface except mid-vein, almost glabrous to sparsely tomentose above; cauline leaves only slightly reducing up stem, linear, apetiolate. Capitula 1-2 mm diameter, 1-9 in loose terminal clusters; longest subtending leaves < to marginally > diameter of cluster. Involucral bracts 4.2-5 mm, elliptic-oblong, obtuse to subacute; stereome green; lamina pale brown with darker markings toward base; gap and margins tinged pale to bright rose or red-purple. Achenes 0.8-1 mm long, covered with short antrorse hairs.
Similar taxa
Most similar to E. delicatus (D.G.Drury) Holub from which it differs by the narrow-elliptic to linear rather than elliptic-oblanceolate to oblanceolate leaves, longer involucral bracts (4.2-5 cf 3.5-4 mm in E. delicatus), rather openly diffuse rather than compact fruiting head, and larger achenes (0.8-1 mm cf. 0.7-0.8 mm long in E. delicatus) bearing longer hairs.
Flowering
October - January
Fruiting
November - April
Life cycle
Pappate cypselae are dispersed by wind and water (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed and rooted pieces. Best kept in a partially submerged pot, placed in full sun.
Threats
A naturally uncommon, biologically sparse species which, based on current information does not appear to under any serious threat. However, weeds encroaching on montane wetlands are threating a few populations.
Etymology
euchiton: From the Greek eu (good) and chiton (tunic or covering)
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): Euchiton ensifer Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/euchiton-ensifer/ (Date website was queried)