Gentianella calcis subsp. waipara
Common name
Waipara gentian
Synonyms
None
Family
Gentianaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Current conservation status
The conservation 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). 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.
2012 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: OL
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: OL
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Critical
Distribution
Endemic. South Island. North Canterbury near Waipara Gorge, White Rock, Weka Pass, Waipara River, North and South Dean, and at one site at Duntroon, North Otago.
Habitat
Lowland areas. A limestone endemic growing on bluffs and ridge lines, in cracks, rock joints, clefts, ledges, talus and rendzina soils
Features
Perennial tufted herb. Petiole distinct. Rosette leaves linear 58-78 mm long, 3.0-6.9 mm wide, green or tinted purple-black, V-shaped in cross-section, recurved, apex rounded; margins minutely serrulate. Cauline leaves linear, smaller than rosette leaves. Flowering stems, green to purple-black, 1-4 per plant. Pedicels 19 mm long, 0.8 mm diam. Flowers 7-25 per plant, c.15 mm long. Calyx 5.6-10 mm long, green or red-brown, sometimes purple-black on margins; lobes 4.5-8.1 mm long, 1.3-1.6 mm wide at base, margins minutely serrulate, apex acute, plane or recurved. Corolla 9.4-14 mm long, veins colourless; tube 2.8-4.0 mm long; lobes 6.6-10 x 4.5-5.4 mm, margins finely serrulate or entire; nectary 1.2-1.4 mm from corolla base, with or without pocket, pocket margins smooth. Filaments 5.4-7.6 mm long from corolla base, 0.4-0.7 mm wide. Anthers 1.6-2.2 mm long. Ovules 11-28 per ovary. Capsules 9.3-11.6 mm long.
Similar taxa
Part of the G. calcis Glenny et Molloy complex. It differs from subsp. manahune by the colourless corolla veins and from the other two subspecies by corolla size (9.4-14 mm long, cf. 13.8-19 mm in subsp. taiko and subsp. calcis). Glenny (2004, N.Z.J.Bot. 42(3), p. 474) provides a range of comparartive vegetative and flora characters distinguishing this subspecies from the others. For differences between it and G. astonii subsp. arduana Glenny et Molloy see under that taxon entry
Flowering
March - May
Flower colours
White, Yellow
Fruiting
Unknown
Propagation technique
Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.
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 diffuse, typically small populations are very vulnerable to erosion, boulder and rock falls. Previously recorded as Gentiana aff. astonii (a) (CHR 529112; Mt Brown) in de Lange et al. (2004).
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)
Where To Buy
Not Commercially Available
Notes on taxonomy
The unusual disjunction between North Canterbury and North Otago is matched by morphology and it has been suggested that the Duntroon Plant should be regarded as an allied but as yet unnamed entity (B.P.J. Molloy pers. comm.).
Attribution
Description modified from Glenny (2004)
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.