Gratiola pubescens
Common name
Hairy Brooklime
Synonyms
None
Family
Plantaginaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Current conservation status
The threat classification 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) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website 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. Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – a suggested threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Non-resident Native – Vagrant | Qualifiers: SO
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Non-resident Native – Vagrant | Qualifiers: SO
2009 | Non-resident Native – Vagrant | Qualifiers: SO
2004 | Non-resident Native – Vagrant
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.
Features
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.
Flowering
October - April
Flower colours
Red/Pink, Violet/Purple
Fruiting
October - July
Life cycle
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.
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.
Etymology
gratiola: Little beauty
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Additional information
In New Zealand known from a single gathering made from Parkinsons Lake made in January 1999 (AK 247105, P. J. de Lange 3896).
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 4 May 2006. Description by P.J. de Lange.
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
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)