Gentianella calcis subsp. taiko
Common names
Pareora gentian
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
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 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DPT, RR
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
Violet/Purple, White
Detailed description
Perennial tufted herb. Petiole distinct, 15-50 mm long. Rosette leaves narrowly elliptical 42-75 mm long, 4.4-8.8 mm wide, green, weakly V-shaped in cross-section, slightly recurved, apex acute to obtuse; margins minutely serrulate. Cauline leaves, linear, recurved, smaller than rosette leaves. Flowering stems, purple-black, 1-5 per plant. Pedicels 6.5-12 mm long, 0.75-0.9 mm diam. Flowers 28-65 per plant, 1-18 per flowering stem, 16-18 mm long. Calyx green, tinted purple black, 6.8-9.8 mm long, green tinted purple; lobes 4.5-7.2 mm long, 1.3-1.8 mm wide at base, strongly recurved, apices acute, margins minutely serrulate. Corolla 11.7-19.0 mm long, veins colourless; tube 3.6-4.7 mm long; lobes 7.8-14.3 x 3.6-6.9 mm, margins usually toothed; nectary 0.8-2.2 mm from corolla base, V-shaped to pocket-like with distinct smooth-margined flap. Filaments 6.5-9.4 mm long from corolla base, 0.40-0.65 mm wide. Anthers 1.5-2.2 mm long. Ovules 14-24 per ovary. Capsules 13-16.5 mm long.
Similar taxa
Distinguished from the other subspecies of G. calcis Glenny et Molloy by its wide leaves (4.4-8.8 mm). Also the leaves are rather long and only slightly V-shaped in cross-section. Secondary branching of the flowering stems is minimal. The corolla is rather large (14.6-19 mm long), uniformly white, and the nectary flap has an untoothed margin. For differnces from G. astonii T.N.Ho et S.W.Liu see under G. calcis subsp. calcis.
Distribution
Endemic. South Island: near Pareora (Limestone Valley Road)
Habitat
A limestone endemic confined to shaded sites on limestone bluffs and boulders, and associated rendzina soils, in lowland areas.
Threats
Under severe threat from the spread of Pilosella officinarum, Festuca rubra, and pasture grasses, as well as habitat loss due to changes in land use (e.g. changes in grazing intensity), and through browsing from feral goats. Limestone quarrying is a long-term threat, and the very small population is vulnerable to erosion, boulder and rock falls. Previously recorded as Gentiana aff. astonii (b) (CHR 529111; Pareora River) in de Lange et al. (2004).
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
None
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
(March)-April-May
Fruiting
Unknown
Propagation technique
Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.
Other information
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.
GENCST
Chromosome number
2n = 36
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 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: RR
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)