Gingidia grisea
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
Red/Pink, White
Detailed description
Tap-rooted, stout, glabrous, gynodioecious perennial grey-green, glaucous herb. Leaves 3-5 per rosette, imparipinnate, subcoriaceous, grey-green. Petiole 70-300 mm long, sheath with marginal wings. Leaflets 4-7 pairs, often overlapping, sessile, 10-50 x 55 mm, smaller distally, orbicular to rhomboid, grey-green with dense glaucous bloom on both surfaces, margin rounded in distal part with 12-24, deeply cut or crenate teeth, base cuneate, obtuse, or truncate, and entire. Cauline leaves 12-60 mm long, grey-green, sheath 11-18 x 5-5.75 mm, leaflets in 1-4 pairs, similar to rosette leaves; upper cauline leaves reduced in size, linear, entire or toothed. Compound umbel peduncle 27-87 mm long, with 7-28 simple umbels; umbels subtended by 4-6 primary, broad-elliptic narrowly acuminate bracts. Female flowers 1.5-3.5 mm long, male and hermaphrodite flowers 2.6-4.2 mm long. Petals white flushed pink. Mericarps 3.9-4.1 x 0.9-1 mm, ovate to ovate-elliptic, brown.
Similar taxa
Morphologically closest to G. montana (J.R.Forst et G.Forst.) J.W.Dawson, from which it differs by the distinctive grey-green leaves, dense glaucous bloom on both leaf surfaces, and by the secondary bracts which are broad-elliptic and long-acuminate. Unlike G. montana the inflorescences are often hidden within the rosette leaves, particularly so with female specimens.
Distribution
Endemic. South Island, north-eastern Otago, 15 populations known from near the Millhouse (Herbert) south to Mt Watkin (Waikouaiti), east to Macraes Flat and then west to Shag and Moeraki Points.
Habitat
Now virtually confined to cliff and talus slopes on base-rich igneous (basalt lava, breccia), metamorphic (schist) and sedimentary (calcareous sandstone, siltstone, mudstone and calcareous basaltic breccia and agglomerate) rocks. Within these cliff and talus habitats it grows in open sites with minimal cover.
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.
- 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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT, RR
Threats
At risk from habitat loss following displacement by weeds such as boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum Miers), spur valerian (Centranthus ruber (L.) DC.), gorse (Ulex europaeus L.) and broom (Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link). Goats and other browsing animals are a risk at most sites. This species has already declined or been lost from a number of sites where it had been common 20 or so years ago. Previously regarded (as Gingidia aff. montana (b) (CHR 103349; North Otago)) as Nationally Vulnerable in de Lange et al. (2004).
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
None
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
November - January
Fruiting
December - April
Life cycle and dispersal
Winged mericarps are dispersed by wind (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Grows readily from fresh seed, and does well in a free-draining, fertile soil within a sunny, exposed situation. Dislikes humidity.
Other information
Etymology
gingidia: A Syrian carrot
grisea: Pearl-grey
Chromosome number
2n = 22
Previous conservation statuses
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.
- 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.
2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, RR
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable
Regional conservation statuses
Otago: 2024 | At Risk – Regionally Declining | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT, NStr, PF, RE, RR, TL
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Otago conservation status information is sourced from the “Regional conservation status of indigenous vascular plants in Otago” Jarvie S et al. (2024) report.
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
de Lange et al., 2004, Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand, New Zealand Journal of Botany 42: 45-76.
Heenan, P. B. 2004: Gingidia grisea (Apiaceae), a new species from north-east Otago, South Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42: 175-180.
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.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared by P.J. de Lange (1 February 2005). Description adapted from Heenan (2004)
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Gingidia grisea Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/gingidia-grisea/ (Date website was queried)