Gunnera arenaria
Synonyms
None
Family
Gunneraceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
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.
GUNARE
Chromosome number
2n = 34
Current conservation status
The conservation 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). 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.
2012 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: DP
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: DP
2004 | Gradual Decline
Distribution
Endemic. North, South and Stewart Islands from the Pouto Peninsula south and mainly westerly in its distribution. Occurring locally throughout.
Habitat
A coastal species of damp sand ground, dune slacks and swales, and along tidal river margins. It also grows on coastal sandstone bluffs in some parts of the country.
Features
Low growing herb, mat forming. Stolons rather stout, usually creeping through sand, branched, up to approximately 40 cm. long. Leaves on stout, more or less flat, amplexicaul petioles up to 5 cm. long. Lamina rather diversely shaped (on same plant) oblong to ovate to sub-rhombic, cuneate to subcordate at base, subcoriaceous, grey-green, 7-12-(20) × 9-15 mm., subglabrous, coarsely crenate, sometimes lobed. Inflorescence up to 7 cm. long, flowers sessile. Staminate flower with filiform calyx-lobes, minute bracts; petals 2, about lanceolate, glabrous, more or less 2 mm. long; filaments obsolete. Pistillate flowers with triangular calyx-lobes more or less 6 mm. long; styles filiform, up to 5 mm. long. Drupes clavate to obconic, patent to pendulous, more or less apiculate, on elongated scapes, yellow to pale red, more or less 4-6 mm. long.
Flowering
November - March
Fruiting
November - May
Threats
At risk from coastal development, wetland drainage and the spread of invasive weeds. Some populations have been destroyed by coastal erosion.
Etymology
gunnera: Named after Bishop Gunner, a Swedish botanist
arenaria: Sand dweller
Attribution
Description adapted by M. Ward from Allan (1961).
References and further reading
Allan, H. H. 1961 Flora of New Zealand. Volume I. Wellington, N. Z. pg. 251.