Gingidia decipiens
Synonyms
Aciphylla decipiens Benth. et Hook.f., Ligusticum decipiens Kirk, Angelica decipiens Hook.f.; Ligusticum petraeum Cheeseman, Anisotome petraea (Cheeseman) Cheeseman, Gingidum decipiens (Hook.f.) J.W.Dawson
Family
Apiaceae
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.
GINDEC
Chromosome number
2n = 22
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 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. South Island, mainly westerly from Nelson to Fiordland
Habitat
Subalpine to alpine herbfield (up to 1600 m a.s.l.). Rupestral within rock crevices, ledges and within talus slopes and debris slides. Usually found on limestone, marble or granite, or base-rich facies of greywacke.
Features
Stout yellow-green to dark green or glaucescent perennial from compact tufts up to 200 mm wide. Bases surrounded by persistent dead leaf remnants. Plants not rhizomatous. Petioles 10-80 x 0.75-1.5 mm, sheaths 6-20 x 3-7 mm. Leaves once-pinnate, rarely 2-pinnate, sub-fleshy, 40-180 x 5-40 mm yellow-green, dark green to glaucescent; leaflets 5-10 pairs, these 4-24 x 3-16 mm, sessile or shortly petioluled with petiolules up to 5 mm long; mostly pinnatifid or pinnate, rare simple; if pinnatifid or pinnate with two pairs of segments; segments not overlapping, stomata equally abundant on both surfaces. Inflorescences 80-200 mm long with axes 0.75-2.0 mm diameter; compound with umbels 1-3 per inflorescence; simple umbels 5-10 per compound umbel; bracts free; flowers 8-15 per simple umbel; styles 1.5-3.0 mm long. Mericarps (excluding style) 3.2-6.0 mm long, dull or glossy, finely bullate on wings, dark yellow, brown or tinged purple, vittae dark brown, dark red-brown or dark purple-brown; ovate-oblong or ovate; apex rounded or narrowed to 2-3 lanceolate to ovate-triangular calyx teeth and thin twisted style remnant; surface broadly convex with 5 equal ribs, the 2 commissural broadly and evenly winged, or with wings broadening toward base.
Similar taxa
Distinguished from all other New Zealand species of Gingidia by the usually green to yellow green rather than glaucous leaflets which are < 15 mm long, in 5-10 pairs, mostly pinnatifid to pinnate (rarely simple), with the lower leaflets sessile or on short petiolules up to 5 mm long, usually truncate or obtuse at base. Simple leaflets usually bear 7 or more teeth, while pinnatifid leafllets have 5 or less teeth per proximal segment. More likely to be confused with Anisotome Hook.f. from which it is best distinguished by leaflet teeth which are not produced into hairs or bristles, and the obvious aniseed smell of the leaves when crushed.
Flowering
October - April
Flower colours
Brown, Yellow
Fruiting
November - June
Life cycle
Winged mericarps are dispersed by wind (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed. An excellent and attractive rockery plant. Ideal in a pot. Prefers free draining moist soils. Benefits from regular applications of lime.
Etymology
gingidia: A Syrian carrot
decipiens: Deceptive
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared by P.J. de Lange (1 February 2009). Description adapted from Dawson (1974)
References and further reading
Dawson, J.W. 1974: Validation of Gingidia (Umbelliferae). Kew Bulletin 29: 476-476.
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
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Gingidia decipiens Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/gingidia-decipiens/ (Date website was queried)