Gentianella calcis subsp. manahune
Past favourite plant finalist
Common names
Manahune gentian
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
Violet/Purple, White
Detailed description
Perennial tufted herb. Petiole distinct, 14-32 mm long. Rosette leaves linear to very narrowly elliptical or narrowly obovate 30-60 mm long, 2.8-4.1 mm wide, green, V-shaped in cross-section, recurved at the acute leaf apex; margins minutely serrulate. Cauline leaves, 8 pairs per stem, linear, recurved, usually smaller than rosette leaves. Flowering stems, purple-black, 1-3 per plant. Pedicels 6.5-12 mm long, 0.75-0.9 mm diam. Flowers 24-42 per plant, 12-15 mm long. Calyx green, tinted purple black, 6.8-7 mm long; lobes 4.3-5.7 mm long, 1.5 mm wide at base, apices acute, recurved, margins minutely serrulate. Corolla 11.7-13.8 mm long, veins purple; tube 3.1-4.3 mm long; lobes 7.7-9.5 mm long, 5.4-6.0 mm wide, margins toothed; nectary 2.0-2.1 mm from corolla base, V-shaped deep but without flap. Filaments 6.6-8.1 mm long from corolla base, 0.45-0.6 mm wide. Anthers 1.75-2.0 mm long, extrorse at anthesis. Ovules 15-21 per ovary. Ovary blue at apex after fertilisation. Capsules 8-11.5 mm.
Similar taxa
Allied to the other three subspecies of G. calcis Glenny et Molloy but distinguished from all of these by the purple Corolla veins. For differences between G. calcis subsp. manahune and G. astonii T.N.Ho et S.W.Liu see under G. calcis subsp. calcis.
Distribution
Endemic. South Island, South Canterbury, at Albury and Manahune
Habitat
A limestone endemic growing in lowland to montane areas on limestone bluffs in rock joints, clefts, crevices and ledges
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 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DPT, OL
Threats
Under severe threat from the spread of Hieraceum pilosella L. and pasture grasses, habitat loss due to changes in stocking regimes, and through browsing from feral goats. Limestone quarrying is a long-term threat, while the very small population is vulnerable to erosion, boulder and rock falls and erosion. Previously recorded as Gentiana aff. astonii (c) (CHR 542276; Manahune) in de Lange et al. (2004).
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Gentianaceae
Synonyms
None
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
May-June
Fruiting
June-September
Propagation technique
Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.
Other information
Where To Buy
Not Commercially Available
Etymology
gentianella: Little Gentiana (named after Gentius, 6th century king of Illyria, who found the roots of the yellow gentian to have a healing effect on his malaria-stricken troops)
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.
GENCSM
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: OL
2012 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: EF, OL
2009 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: OL, EF
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Critical
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
de Lange et al., 2004, Threatened and uncommon plants on New Zealand, New Zealand Journal of Botany 42: 45-76.
Glenny, D. 2004: A revision of the genus Gentianella in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42: 361-530.
Attribution
Fact Sheet for NZPCN prepared by P.J. de Lange (1 November 2004). Description modified from Glenny (2004)