Myosotis eximia
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
White
Detailed description
Tufted somewhat spreading perenial herb with a much branched base bearing numerous loose rosettes. Rosette-leaves 8, up to 100 × 15 mm (in dwarfed plants only 10 × 2 mm), petiole slender, almost equal in length to lamina, broadly sheathing at base; lamina elliptic, tip apiculate; hairs short, straight, stiff, closely appressed, not overlapping and sparse on leaf undersides (sometimes almost absent on old leaves). Lateral branches ascending, up to 250 mm long, leafless below cyme, lower internodes us. < lvs. Stem-lvs up to 25×7 mm., elliptic, apiculate, sessile, hairs similar to those on rosette-lvs but a little longer. Cymes simple or forked, ebracteate, c.12-flowered, up to 30 mm long; internodes < calyx in fruit; pedicels up to 2-4 mm; calyx 5-6 mm long, lobes > half calyx length, narrow and acute, hairs short, stiff, sparse and appressed. Corolla white, 14-18 mm diameter, tube 4.0-4.6 mm long with vertically elongated scales at mouth, flaring above into wide funnel-shape with shallow lobes c.5.0-6.0 × 3.0-3.5 mm; filaments long, reaching to level of lobes; anthers 2 mm long, prominently exserted; style 2-3× calyx in fruit, stigma capitate. Nutlet 2.3-3.1 × 1.4-1.8 mm, ovate-elliptic, black.
Similar taxa
Myosotis eximia is easily recognised by its much branched spreading habit; leaves which are sparsely hairy (with the hairs short, stuff, and closely appressed); by the large and dense fruiting inflorescences whose internodes are less than the length of the calyx; by the anthers which are much shorter than their filaments and by the large white flowers which have wide-funnelform corolla-tubes, and straight rather than hooked calyx hairs. In the wild part of its range Myosotis eximia is very unlikely to be confused with any other Myosotis species.
Distribution
Endemic. North Island: Kaimanawa and Ruahine Ranges
Habitat
Subalpine to alpine. A basicole confined to limestone bluffs and talus slopes
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.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – these interim threat classification statuses has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- 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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT, RR
Threats
Myosotis eximia is a narrow-range, naturally uncommon endemic confined to base-rich rocks (mostly limestone and calcareous sandstones) of the Kaimanawa and Ruahine Range. Although it is very localised species known populations seem secure and none appear to be threatened.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Boraginaceae
Synonyms
None
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
December - January
Fruiting
February - April
Propagation technique
One of the few indigenous alpine Myosotis that is easily cultivated. Best grown in a sunny situation within a free-draining but moist soil enriched with lime. Excellent in a rockery or alpine house. This species flowers freely even in warm climates
Other information
Cultivation
Myosotis eximia is occasionally sold by specialist native plant nurseries (and even from time to time in more general nursery outlets).
Etymology
myosotis: Mouse-eared
eximia: Strikingly unusual
Chromosome number
2n = 44
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, RR
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Range Restricted
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Allan HH. 1961. Flora of New Zealand, Volume I. Indigenous Tracheophyta: Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledones. Government Printer, Wellington, NZ. 1085 p.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 1 February 2008. Description based on Allan (1961).
Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Myosotis eximia Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/myosotis-eximia/ (Date website was queried)