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  4. Euchiton polylepis

Euchiton polylepis

Macraes, Otago.<br>Photographer: Mike Thorsen, Licence: All rights reserved. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Manuherikia River, Otago.<br>Photographer: John Barkla, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>.
Manuherikia River, Otago.<br>Photographer: John Barkla, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>.
Okehu Stream mouth. Dec 2004.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Minaret Burn, March.<br>Photographer: John Barkla, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Minaret Burn, March.<br>Photographer: John Barkla, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
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Biostatus

Native – Endemic taxon

Category

Vascular

Structural class

Herbs - Dicotyledonous composites

Detailed description

Stoloniferous, perennial daisy. Stems 1-2, ascending, 1-6 cm tall. Leaves mostly basal, these elliptic to narrow-obovate, apex often rounded to acute with a small sharp projecting tip (mucronate), 5-15 (-30) × (1-)4(-5) mm, densely white-tomentose on the under sides except the mid vein, upper sides olive green to grey-green usually hairless. Upper stem leaves 1-3(-5), scale-like, ovate-triangular, almost clasping around stem (amplexicaul). Flower heads (capitula) 1-2 mm diameter, solitary, buried amongst foliage when flowering, exceeding leaves when fruiting. Involucral bracts elliptic-oblong, obtuse, 3.2-4(-4.5) mm long, central portion green, apex often tinged reddish-purple at apex, margins pale to mid-brown, with darker markings at base. Achenes (seeds) 0.7-1 mm, sparsely papillate (with round projections).

Similar taxa

Morphologically E. polylepis is only likely to be confused with E. paludosus. That species differs from E. polylepis by its usually folded, moderately tomentose upper leaf surfaces. The leaves are 0.5-2(-5) mm broad and are not mucronate. In E. paludosus the involucral bracts are 3.2-4(-4.5) mm long, and perfect flowers number 1-3(-5) rather than the (2-)4(-7) seen in E. polylepis. The two species are often sympatric but E. polylepis is the only one known to also grow in lowland habitats.

Distribution

Endemic to New Zealand. Mostly montane in the North Island (Central Volcanic Plateau and Mt Taranaki/Egmont) and on coast of North Island near Manaia, Whanganui and eastern Wairarapa; throughout the South Island, though seemingly rare in Westland.

Habitat

Lowland to subalpine in damp places, especially stream sides and damp hollows in grassland, cliffs and rocky laces.

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.

  • 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

Jump to previous conservation statuses

Threats

Described by Drury (1972), and believed to be uncommon. Although it would seem unlikely to be seriously threatened the exact status of this species, perhaps because it is so small and easily over-looked, is uncertain and it would be vulnerable to competition from taller weeds.

Detailed taxonomy

Family

Asteraceae

Authority

Euchiton polylepis (D.G.Drury) Breitw. et J.M.Ward

Synonyms

Gnaphalium paludosum var. polylepis Drury, Gnaphalium polylepis (Drury) C.Webb

Endemic taxon

Yes

Endemic genus

No

Endemic family

No

Ecology

Flowering

November - February

Fruiting

December to April

Life cycle and dispersal

Pappate cypselae are dispersed by wind and water (Thorsen et al., 2009).

Propagation technique

Easily grown from seed and rooted pieces of stem.

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]

FACW: Facultative Wetland

Usually is a hydrophyte but occasionally found in uplands (non-wetlands).

Other information

Etymology

euchiton: From the Greek eu (good) and chiton (tunic or covering)

polylepis: With many scales

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.

EUCPOL

Chromosome number

2n = 28

Previous conservation statuses

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.

  • 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.

2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, PD, Sp

2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, PD, Sp

2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon

2004 | Data Deficient

Jump to current conservation status

Regional conservation statuses

The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Otago conservation status information is sourced from the “Regional conservation status of indigenous vascular plants in Otago” Jarvie S et al. (2024) report.

Otago: 2024 | Threatened – Regionally Vulnerable | Qualifiers: DPR, DPS, DPT, PF, Sp

Referencing and citations

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

Attribution

Amended distribution, including Westland. C C Ogle

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