Gingidia enysii var. enysii
Common names
limestone aniseed
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
Brown, Orange
Detailed description
Stout tufted glaucous perennial herbs forming small circular patches 100 x 100 mm; bases clean from dead leaf remnants. Petioles 10-20 x 0.5-2.0 mm; sheaths 6-10 x 3-7 mm. Leaves once pinnate rarely 2-pinnate, fleshy, 30-100 x 8-30 mm, distinctly glaucous on both surfaces; leaflets 2-10 pairs, each 3-12 x 3-10 mm, simple, pinnatifid or pinnate with one to two (or more) segments, segments overlapping cut at less than or equal to one-third of the way to the mid-vein, terminal leaflets similar in size to the lateral leaflets; stomata abundant on both surfaces, leaflets sessile or with short petiolules. Inflorescences 50-170 mm long with axes 1.0-1.5 mm diameter below the first node; compound umbels 1-4 per inflorescence; in simple umbels 2-6 per compound umbel; bracts free or partly fused; flowers 5-12 per simple umbel; styles 0.75-2.00 mm long. Mericarps (excluding style) 2.5-5.0 mm long, dull light orange-yellow, orange-brown to brown, sometimes tinged purple, vittae dark brown to black-brown; narrowly ovate, ovate to narrowly ovate-oblong; apex narrowed to 2-3 ovate-triangular calyx teeth and usually recurved style remnant; surface broadly convex with 5 equal ribs.
Similar taxa
Differs from Gingidia enysii var. peninsulare J.W.Dawson by the leaflet segments, which are cut at no more than one-third of the way to the mid-vein. In all other respects both taxa are similar. Both taxa are allopatric, with G. enysii var. peninsulare being confined to igneous rocks on Banks Peninsula.
Distribution
Endemic. South Island, and as interpreted here to Castle Hill, Flock Hill, Prebble Hill, Cave Stream and Broken River.
Habitat
Limestone outcrops and associated talus slopes within montane habitats (up to 700 m a.s.l.). Usually in open, sparsely vegetated sites. Often on the tops of solution karren or shallow depressions on the tops of rock stacks and towers.
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 Endangered | Qualifiers: CD, RR
Threats
As interpreted here, G. enysii var. enysii is threatened because its habitats are being over-run by aggressive weeds such as Festuca rubra, Hieracium spp., Pilosella officinarum and Dactylis glomerata L.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Apiaceae
Synonyms
Ligusticum enysii Kirk, Anisotome enysii (Kirk) Laing, Gingidium enysii (Kirk) J.W.Dawson var. enysii, Gingidium enysii var. spathulatum J.W.Dawson, Gingidia enysii var. spathulatum J.W.Dawson
Taxonomic notes
Research into the G. enysii complex by Dr(s) B.P.J. Molloy and R. Gardner (University of Auckland) supports the concepts of Dawson (1967) rather than Webb (1977). However, their research (based on morphology supplemented by rDNA ITS data) also suggests that other populations from the Kaikoura Ranges, North and South Canterbury, and northern Otago are not G. enysii but allied, as yet unnamed (or apparently unnamed) species. The Banks Peninsula endemic Gingidia enysii var. peninsulare J.W.Dawson is also distinct from G. enysii var. enysii, though at a much lower level than the other populations investigated.
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
October - January
Fruiting
November - May
Life cycle and dispersal
Winged mericarps are dispersed by wind (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed. Does well in a well drained, sunny situation. Does not tolerate overshadowing and dislikes prolonged humidity or wet poorly draining soils. Responds well to regular applications of lime.
Other information
Etymology
gingidia: A Syrian carrot
enysii: Named in honour of John Davies Enys (1837-1912), a Cornish geologist, biologist and farmer, who owned Castle Hill Station in Canterbury from 1867 to 1891.
Chromosome number
2n = 22
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered | Qualifiers: Dp, RR
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP
2004 | Range Restricted
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Dawson, J.W. 1967: The New Zealand species of Gingidium (Umbelliferae). New Zealand Journal of Botany 5: 84-106.
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.
Webb, C.J. 1977: Gingidia baxteri and Gingidia enysii (Umbelliferae). New Zealand Journal of Botany 15: 639-643.
Attribution
Factsheet by P.J. de Lange (21 August 2006). Description based on Dawson (1967).
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Gingidia enysii var. enysii Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/gingidia-enysii-var-enysii/ (Date website was queried)