Gratiola pedunculata
Biostatus
Native
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
White, Yellow
Detailed description
Erect, sparingly branched, perennial herb up to 450 mm tall; all parts except corolla densely covered in viscid indumentum of sessile, golden, globose glands and sparse glandular hairs. Stems lime-green or red-purple. Leaves sessile, 3-nerved, 8-18 x 3-10 mm, lime-green, ovate to lanceolate; margins widely toothed, leaf base amplexicaule. Flowers 1(-2) per leaf axis. Pedicels 10-12(-16) mm. Bracteoles 1-2(-3) mm, linear-falcate. Sepals 5, free, erect, narrowly lanceolate, 4-5 mm. Corolla white flushed yellow, with 12-14 longitudinal purple stripes; tube 6 mm, narrow, inner surface white, silky hairy; lobes 5, projecting forward, 1 mm long, upper lobe often shallowly 2-lobed. Anthers white, ovoid, 0.5 mm; filaments yellow, 2-3 mm, staminodes 2 or 0, filiform and minute. Style caducous 1.8-2.1 mm. Capsule 3-5 mm, broadly ovoid, exceeding calyx, septicidal to base.
Similar taxa
A distinctive species whose sparingly branched, erect habit, extremely viscid indumentum, lime-green, unspotted leaves, and conspicuous pedicellate, sweetly scented flowers immediately distinguish it from the other three indigenous species.
Distribution
Indigenous. New Zealand: North Island Lakes Waiporohita and Rotokawau, (Karikari Peninsula), and Kai iwi lakes, Northland. Common in Australia
Habitat
In New Zealand G. pedunculata is only known from two northern North Island lakes where it is an uncommon emergent in shallow water, and a common species of those lakes marginal turf communities
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 | Non-resident Native – Coloniser | Qualifiers: SO
Threats
Not threatened but still very uncommon in New Zealand. First discovered in New Zealand at Lake Waiporohita, Karikari Peninsula in November 1991 but it was not correctly identified until better material was collected in January 1996. Subsequently it has been discovered at Lake Rotokawau, also on the Karikari Peninsula and at the Kai iwi lakes. The seeds are probably dispersed by ducks and other dabbling water fowl.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Plantaginaceae
Synonyms
None
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
November – March
Fruiting
December – May
Life cycle and dispersal
Mucilaginous seeds are dispersed by water and possibly wind and attachment (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh seed and stem cuttings. Prone to slug and snail damage. Does best in sunny, permanently damp soil. The small inconspicuous flowers, while not overly attractive are very pleasantly scented.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
FACW: Facultative Wetland
Usually is a hydrophyte but occasionally found in uplands (non-wetlands).
Other information
Where To Buy
Not commercially available.
Etymology
gratiola: Little beauty
pedunculata: Flowers stalked
Chromosome number
2n = 32
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | Non-resident Native – Coloniser | Qualifiers: SO
2012 | Non-resident Native – Coloniser | Qualifiers: SO
2009 | Non-resident Native – Coloniser | Qualifiers: SO
2004 | Non-resident Native – Coloniser
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
de Lange, P.J. 1997: Gratiola pedunculata (Scrophulariaceae): a new addition to the New Zealand flora. New Zealand Journal of Botany 35: 317-322
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 for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 23 May 2005. Description modified from de Lange (1997)
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Gratiola pedunculata Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/gratiola-pedunculata/ (Date website was queried)