Gingidia enysii var. enysii
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
Family
Apiaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
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.
2018 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP
2004 | Range Restricted
Distribution
Endemic. South Island, and as interpreted here to Castle Hill, Flock Prebble Hills, Cave Creek 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.
Features
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 G. 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 similar. Both taxa are allopatric with var. peninsulare confined to igneous rocks on Banks Peninsula.
Flowering
October - January
Flower colours
Brown, Orange
Fruiting
November - May
Life cycle
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
Threats
As interpreted here, G. enysii is probably threatened rather than range restricted as its habitats are being over run by aggressive weeds such as Hieracium L. and Dactylis L. It is still very common in at Castle Hill but as these weeds continue to spread its range is contracting there. It is very local outside Castle Hill. Almost certainly warrants a higher Threat Listing, perhaps as Chronically Threatened/Serious Decline.
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.
Where To Buy
Not commercially available.
Taxonomic notes
On going research into the G. enysii complex by Dr(s) B.P.J. Molloy and R. Gardner (University of Auckland) support 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.
Attribution
Fact Sheet by P.J. de Lange (21 August 2006). Description based on Dawson (1967)
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.
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)