Geniostoma ligustrifolium var. crassum
Synonyms
Geniostoma rupestre var. ligustrifolium (A.Cunn.) B.J.Conn
Family
Loganiaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Chromosome number
2n = 40
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: OL
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: OL
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: CD, ST, OL
2004 | Range Restricted
Brief description
Shrub bearing pale green thick leaves that are silvery pale underneath inhabiting the northern tip of the North Island. Leaves rounded or pointed, more or less fleshy. Flowers small, green, slightly hairy, in clusters at base of leaf. Fruit a dry capsule splitting in two to show small orange seeds.
Flower colours
Green
Etymology
geniostoma: The tribe with pitted seed
ligustrifolium: From the genus Ligustrum privet and the Greek word phylum ‘leaf’, meaning privet-leaved
crassum: Thick
Cultural Use/Importance
Geniostoma ligustrifolium var. crassum is a distinct ultramafic endemic with a lianoid trailing habit. It has proved virtually impossible to maintain in cultivation without regular applications of serpentinite. On the Surville Cliffs it is occasionally sympatric with G. ligustrifolium var. ligustrifolium, an upright shrub or small tree that dislikes ultramafic soils. The opinion of Murray & de Lange (1999) is here followed in treating both taxa as distinct and further suggesting that var. crassum warrants species rank (see Geniostoma ligustrfiolium var. ligustrifolium).
References and further reading
Murray, B.G.; de Lange, P. J. 1999: Contributions to a chromosome atlas of the New Zealand flora - 35. Miscellaneous families. New Zealand Journal of Botany 37: 511-521.