Hypericum minutiflorum
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
Yellow
Detailed description
Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous, glabrous. Stems up to 50 mm long, 0.2–0.3 mm diam., usually prostrate, without pellucid glands, quadrangular. Leaves sessile, 1.5–4.5 × 0.3–1.2 mm, narrowly elliptic, oblong, or lanceolate, grey-green to olive-green, usually ruddy on margin and back; pellucid glands up to 0.05 mm diam.; margin planar to slightly sinuate. Inflorescence terminal, occ. axillary, flowers 1–3. Pedicels 0.7–1.8 mm long, dark green to olive-green, often ruddy. Flowers 3–6 mm diam. Sepals 4–5, 1.7–2.8 × 0.6–1.0 mm, oblong to elliptic, dark green to olive-green, usually ruddy margin and distally, width unequal. Petals 5, 2.0–3.3 × 0.9–1.2 mm, yellow, elliptic, pellucid glands absent; margins entire; apex subacute to obtuse. Stamens 7–8, 1.2–2.0 mm long, pale yellow, terete; anthers c. 0.2 mm long, yellow. Ovary 1.4–2.0 mm long, ovoid to broadly ovoid, light green; styles 3(–4), 0.3–0.4 mm long, spreading. Capsule 2.3–2.9 × 1.5–2.5 mm, cylindric to globose, style persistent. Seeds 0.5–0.6 × 0.2–0.3 mm, orange-brown to light yellow, aging to dark brown, oblong-obovate or oblong, terete, semi-glossy.
Similar taxa
Distinguished from H. pusillum by the rhizomatous and compact growth habit, leaves that are grey-green to olive-green and usually ruddy and with smooth margins, and smaller flowers. H. pusillum is a larger and more robust plant, has green leaves with distinctly sinuate margins, and flowers up to 9 mm in diameter. From the closely related H. rubicundulum, H. minutiflorum differs in having smaller leaves and flowers which are less than 6 mm in diameter
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: North Island (Volcanic Plateau).
Habitat
Montane to subalpine in depressions, hollows, or wet ground in tussockland, shrubland and river terraces, and tarn or wetland margins.
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 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: EF, RR
Threats
Threatened by competition from weeds and loss of it habitat due to forestry and farming. Although this species still occurs at a number of sites, collectively these do not exceed 1 hectare in extent. None of the populations are secure from the threats, and at all known sites H. minutiflorum is in decline.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
None. First described in December 2008
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
November–April
Fruiting
November–May
Life cycle and dispersal
Seeds are wind and water dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Difficult. Best grown in a small pot kept partially submerged in water. Plants are winter dormant and often die right down to ground level, resprouting in spring. An attractive plant on account of the dark red leaves and bright yellow flowers.
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
Cultivation
Can be purchased from specialist nurseries.
Etymology
hypericum: From the Greek hyper (above) and eikon (picture), the plant was hung above pictures to ward off evil spirits
Chromosome number
2n = 16
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 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DP, EF, RR
2012 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DP, EF
2009 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DP, EF
2004 | Serious Decline
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
de Lange et al., 2004, Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42: 45-76.
Heenan, P.B. 2008: Three newly recognised species of Hypericum (Clusiaceae) from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 46: 547-558.
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 the NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (1 July 2008). Description from Heenan (2008)