Meteoriopsis reclinata
Common names
moss
Biostatus
Native
Current conservation status
This is the first complete assessment of all known species of mosses found in the wild in Aotearoa New Zealand with a total of 560 species being assessed. The conservation status of mosses, published in the NZTCS database, replaces all previous assessments of mosses. Data supporting the 2025 NZTCS assessment of mosses has been published on the NZTCS database at https://nztcs.org.nz/reports/1155.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2025 | Data Deficient
Category
Non-vascular
Structural class
Mosses
Detailed description
Plants robust, epiphytic, creeping, yellow-green to brown-yellow. Stems sparsely branched. Leaves spreading, lanceolate and narrowly acuminate, weakly clasping but not auriculate at base, strongly serrulate above, rather weakly serrulate below and nearly to base, both weakly twisted and weakly undulate at apex, mostly c. 3.5 mm. Mid laminal cells linear-fusiform, mostly with only 1-2 papaillae on each surface, strongly porose, apparently most 30–42 µm long (but the outline/limit of each cell mostly obscure and apparently longer near costa); alar cells oblong or subquadrate, forming a small group c. 4 cells wide and 4–5 cell high. Costa thin, mostly extending to mid-leaf or somewhat beyond. Sex organs and sporophytes not seen in New Zealand material.
Distribution
Indigenous. New Zealand: Kermadec Islands (Raoul Island only). Also Australia (Queensland), south-east Asia, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Philippines.
Habitat
Corticolous on the canopy branches of a range of trees in the ‘wet forest’ on Raoul Island.
Substrate details
Epiphytic. The sole New Zealand gathering was made from the bark of Kermadec hutu (Ascarina lucida var. lanceolata) where it grew through through the thallus of a large foliose blue green Sticta (possibly S. samoensis)
Threats
Unknown. Only recently (September 2009) recognised for New Zealand from a chance gathering made in May 2009 from the Moumoukai summit ridge, Raoul Island. In May 2011 further gatherings were made from other places on Raoul (Smiths Bluff Track, Denham Bay Track) suggesting that this species may warrant “Naturally Uncommon” status. Its preference for high canopy habitats has meant that it is rarely seen in situ, being mostly found as fallen material littering the ground after strong storms. There are no obvious threats but as the species was not recognised in the field its exact status on Raoul is unclear. It may be common or it may be extremely scarce. Further survey is needed.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Fruiting
Not observed in the Raoul Island gatherings
Other information
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.
METREC
Previous conservation statuses
This is the first complete assessment of all known species of mosses found in the wild in Aotearoa New Zealand with a total of 560 species being assessed. The conservation status of mosses, published in the NZTCS database, replaces all previous assessments of mosses. Data supporting the 2025 NZTCS assessment of mosses has been published on the NZTCS database at https://nztcs.org.nz/reports/1155.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2014 | Data Deficient
2010 | Data Deficient | Qualifiers: OL, S?O
Referencing and citations
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange (10 January 2010).
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Meteoriopsis reclinata Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/meteoriopsis-reclinata/ (Date website was queried)