Goodenia heenanii
Biostatus
Native
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
Red/Pink, White
Detailed description
Rhizomatous, mat-forming herb, forming dense patches up to 700 mm diam., or diffuse patches when trailing through other vegetation. Stems 1-2 mm diam. Petiole 3-7(-17) x 0.5-1 mm, distinct from leaf. Leaves dark green, glabrous, alternate, appressed to ground, lamina 3-7 x 3-5 mm, rotund, orbicular, leathery, entire, apex obtuse, base obtuse. Flowers single, arising in leaf axils. Pedicel 3-9 mm, glabrous, green to red-green, erect or spreading; bracts 1.5-2 x 0.7-0.9 mm, lanceolate, falcate, green, erect. Sepals 1-1.4 x 0.7-0.9 mm, narrow-triangular, distal part flushed red, apex subacute. Corolla 7-8 x 8-9 mm, 5 petals fused in proximal part, inner surface white, outer pale red. Petals 3-4 x 1.5-2 mm, lanceolate, falcate. Ovary 1.4-1.6 mm, green, glabrous. Style purple-red, stigma glabrous, orange brown. Stamens 3, orange-brown. Fruit 2-3 x 2-3 mm, ovoid, green. Seeds 1.5 x 1 mm, cream-white, compressed.
Similar taxa
Distinguished from the allied Selliera microphylla and Goodenia radicans by the distinctive, small, rounded to completely orbicular leaves. However, plants with small, rounded to completely orbicular leaves are widespread in parts of the North Island range outside the area in which G. heenanii is considered endemic. They need further study.
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: North Island (westerly from about Whanganui south to Paekakariki).
Habitat
In dune fields where it grows in seasonally damp swales (depressions), occasionally found along the margins of slow flowing tidal streams.
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 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: DPT, RR
Threats
This species is threatened throughout its range by the spread of faster growing and taller weed species which are rapidly modifying the damp, dune swale and estuarine habitats this species favours.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Goodeniaceae
Synonyms
Selliera rotundifolia Heenan
Taxonomic notes
The genus Selliera was merged into Goodenia by Shepherd et al. (2020).
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
December - February
Fruiting
January - May
Propagation technique
Easy from the division of whole plants. An excellent ground cover for sunny, well drained or water logged soils.
Other information
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.
GOOHEE
Chromosome number
2n = 16
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: RR
2012 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: RR
2009 | At Risk – Declining
2004 | Gradual Decline
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Heenan, P. B. 1997: Selliera rotundifolia (Goodeniaceae), a new, round-leaved, species from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 35(2): 133-138.
Shepherd, K.A.; Lepschi, B.J.; Johnson, E.A.; Gardner, A.G.; Sessa, E.B.; Jabaily, R.S. 2020: The concluding chapter: recircumscription of Goodenia (Goodeniaceae) to include four allied genera with an updated infrageneric classification. PhytoKeys 152: 27–104.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 18 June 2006. Description adapted from Heenan (1997).
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Goodenia heenanii Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/goodenia-heenanii/ (Date website was queried)