Gentianella lineata
Synonyms
Gentiana lineata Kirk, Gentiana verecunda G.Simpson, Chionogentias lineata (Kirk) L.G.Adams, Oreophylax lineatus (Kirk) Á.Löve nom. inval.
Family
Gentianaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
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.
GENLIN
Chromosome number
2n = 36
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.
2018 | At Risk – Relict
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | At Risk – Relict | Qualifiers: PD, RR, Sp
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Sparse
Distribution
Endemic. South and Stewart Islands from Otago (Lammerlaw Range, Blue mountains and Ajax Bog) south to Southland and Fiordland. On Stewart Island it ranges from the northwest south to the Tin Range and also on the south western Titi Islands
Habitat
A species of coastal to alpine habitats (0 - 1300 m a.s.l.) frequenting coastal bogs, subalpine forest and scrub, alpine tussock grasslands, or within Schoenus dominated bogs and mires.
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).
FACW: Facultative Wetland
Usually is a hydrophyte but occasionally found in uplands (non-wetlands).
Features
Polycarpic herb 30-180 mm tall when flowering. Branched from base, stoloniferous or not. Flowering stems terminal and lateral 1-18 per plant, tinged purple-black, lateral flowering stems erect or decumbent, flowering stem leaves 0-1 pairs per stem, lowest pedicels from near base of flowering stem to near apex of flowering stem. Petiole indistinct to distinct 4.5-10.4 x 0.5-0.8 mm at leat base. Rosette of leaves absent or present and distinct from flowering stem leaves, basal leaves 11-16 x 1.2-3 mm, green to purple-green above, green, tinted crimson or purple black below, narrowly elliptic or elliptic, leaf apex acute, lamina flat not recurved. Flowering stems ebracteate or rarely with 1 pair. Pedicels 10-75 mm long (elongating after flowering to 30-120 mm), 0.5-0.8 mm diameter. Flowers 1-18 per plant, 7.7-10 mm long. Calyx 6.4-9 mm long, green tinged purple-black, hairs at calyx-corolla fusion linear absent or sparse; lobes 4.9-7 x 1.1-1.7 mm, plane, apices acute, margins smooth, sinus hairs absent. Corolla 4.6-10.5, white, veins uncoloured; tube 1.1-2.9 mm, lobes 3.7-8.1 x 2-4.6 mm, hairs below sinus absent; nectary 0.5-0.6 mm from corolla base. Filaments 2.4-6 x 0.35-0.45 mm, arising from corolla base. Anthers 0.8-1.5 mm long, anther wall blue-black, mouth yellow, introrse at anthesis; pollen yellow. Stigma colourless. Ovules 40-56 per ovary, ovary yellow in maturity. Capsule 7.3-14.2 mm long.
Similar taxa
A distinctive small species recognised by the branched stem base, numerous flowering stems which usually lack bracts, solitary flowers, and small, narrow leaves. It is most likely to be confused with G. grisebachii (Hook.f.) T.N.Ho in Ho & Liu, which has similar long, narrowly acute calyx lobes but the flowering stems of G. grisebachii possess leafy bracts below each flower, while G. lineata invariably has none.
Flowering
November - January
Flower colours
White, Yellow
Fruiting
January - April
Life cycle
Seeds dispersed by ballistic projection, wind and water (Thorsen et al., 2009)
Propagation technique
Difficult - should not be removed from the wild
Threats
A widespread and at times locally common but more usually sparse species. It does not appear to be threatened and virtually all of its known habitats are within part of the conservation estate.
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)
lineata: Linear, striped with a parallel line (plumb line)
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (October 2004).Description modified from Glenny (2004)
References and further reading
Glenny, D. 2004: A revision of the genus Gentianella in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42: 361-530.
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