Gratiola pubescens
Common names
Hairy Brooklime
Biostatus
Native
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 | Non-resident Native – Vagrant | Qualifiers: SO
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
Red/Pink, Violet/Purple
Detailed description
Erect to procumbent glandular sticky perennial herb 25-200 mm tall, all parts except flowers and older growth conspicuously though finely glandular pubescent. Sessile glands globular. Sometimes with larger scattered, eglandular hairs. Branches dark green to purple-green, non-maculate, initially decumbent, rooting at nodes soon ascending to erect. Leaves 7-26 x 2-6 mm, yellow-green to dark green with spots or stitch marks, narrow-elliptic to lanceolate, base cuneate or amplexicaul, margins with 1-3 pairs of broadly acute teeth. Flowers solitary in bract axils; pedicels 1-3 mm long; bracteoles 3-4.5 mm; sepals 3-6 mm long; corolla 10-12 mm long, pink, pink-purple or white (pink-purple in New Zealand specimen), with yellow tube and pale inner face of limb, hirsute inside on the upper side; staminodes 2. Capsule 2.5-5 mm, broadly ovoid; style remnant 2 mm long.
Similar taxa
Most likely to be confused with Gratiola sexdentata from which it differs by its disticntly pubescent, unspotted/blemished stems and leaves and (in New Zealand specimens) pinkish-purple flowers. On occasion Gratiola sexdentata can be moderately hairy but it can still be separated from G. pubescens by its characteristically spotted/blemished leaves and stems and consistently white flowers.
Distribution
Indigenous. In New Zealand known only from the North Island, at Parkinsons Lake on the southern side of the Awhitu Peninsula. Common in Australia
Habitat
In New Zealand this species was collected once from the margin of a small dune lake where it grew in association with Gratiola sexdentata R.Cunn. ex A.Cunn. in a low marginal turf community.
Threats
Collected once in 1999 and not seen again at that site. However, it is easily overlooked as a very hairy form of Gratiola sexdentata so it may be more widespread than current evidence suggests.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
None
Taxonomic notes
In New Zealand known from a single gathering made from Parkinsons Lake made in January 1999 (AK 247105, P. J. de Lange 3896).
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
October - April
Fruiting
October - July
Life cycle and dispersal
Mucilaginous seeds are dispersed by water and possibly wind and attachment (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Unknown. However, it is probably easily grown if treated in the same manner as Gratiola sexdentata and C. pedunculata R.Br.
Other information
Etymology
gratiola: Little beauty
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 | Non-resident Native – Vagrant | Qualifiers: SO
2012 | Non-resident Native – Vagrant | Qualifiers: SO
2009 | Non-resident Native – Vagrant | Qualifiers: SO
2004 | Non-resident Native – Vagrant
Regional conservation statuses
Auckland: 2025 | Regional Non-Resident – Regional Vagrant | Qualifiers: OL, SO
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Auckland conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation status of vascular plant species in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland” Simpkins E et al. (2025) report.
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
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 4 May 2006. Description by P.J. de Lange.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Gratiola pubescens Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/gratiola-pubescens/ (Date website was queried)