Myosotis explanata
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
White
Detailed description
Stout, tufted, dull green to yellow-green perennial herb. Rosette usually single, leaves obovate to linear-spathulate, 30-70 × 14-16 mm, tip rounded and ± mucronate, petiole nearly as long as lamina, ill-defined; hairs tapering and flexuous, scarcely overlapping, on under-surface shorter, sparser and retrorse. Lateral branches few, erect, up to 200 mm long, internodes < or = leaves. Upper stem-leaves sessile and narrow-elliptic, 15-30 × 5-10 mm, tip broadly acuminate; hairs silky, copious, ± appressed except on fringed margin, shorter and sparser on under-surface. Cymes ebracteate, to 60 mm long, little branched, terminal on primary laterals; internodes between fruits occasionally equal to calyx; pedicels very short. Calyx long, reaching 10 mm in fruit, lobes about half the length of calyx, obtuse, rather broad and keeled; hairs of several lengths, not crowded, a few weakly hooked, spreading or retrorse towards base. Corolla white, up to 10 mm diameter, tube 6-10 mm long, slightly flaring above, lobes flat, rounded, c.4 × 3 mm; filaments very short, fixed just below scales, anthers nearly 2 mm long, tips reaching just beyond large scales; style > calyx in fruit, stigma capitate. Nutlet 2.2-3.2 × 1.2-2.0 mm, ovate to elliptic, black.
Similar taxa
Myosotis explanata is superficially similar to members of the M. australis agg., M. suavis, and (vegetatively only) the quite unrelated M. macrantha. It shares with the M. australis agg., M. suavis andf M. forsteri calyx hairs of a range of different sizes though with many or all of the longer ones hooked. It differs from members of the M. australis agg. by the larger calyces (up to 10 mm cf. up to 6 mm in the M. australis agg.) with are cut of halfway to the base rather than nearly to the base, by the near absence rather than abundance of hooked hairs on the calyces (some always present), and by the anther scales projecting well above the scales (not in the M. australis agg.). From M. suavis it differs by the sparse rather crowded hair covering of the leaves, and larger (10 mm cf. 7 mm in M. suavis) flower diameter. From Myosotis macrantha there is no reliable way to distinguish vegetative specimens of M. macrantha though the long narrow strongly coloured flowers of M. macrantha with the anthers exserted wholly beyond the ill-developed scales differ greatly from the shorter, salverform, pure white flowers of M. explanata whose anthers are at best only half exserted, and whose filaments are consistently positioned below the large scales.
Distribution
Endemic. South Island: vicinity of Arthur’s Pass
Habitat
Riparian in upper montane subalpine to alpine streamsides on rocks or boulders. Akso on cliff faces, rock ledges near waterfalls and in seepages or zones of snow-melt within screes
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 explanata is a narrow-range, naturally uncommon endemic believed to be secure within its only known habitats - most of which fall within a National Park. There are no known threats. However, because there has only been limited observations made of this species in the wild a full survey to ascertain its exact range and abundance would be useful. For this reason the species has been qualified “DP” [Data Poor].
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Boraginaceae
Synonyms
None
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
November - January
Fruiting
January - April
Propagation technique
Like all indigenous Myosotis this species is potentially difficult to cultivate. It is also prone to sudden collapse and a range of fungal diseases. For these reasons it is best grown in an alpine house or rock garden. However, results can be expected to vary across the country and even within the same garden from year to year.
Other information
Etymology
myosotis: Mouse-eared
explanata: Flattened
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.
MYOEXP
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, EF, RR
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: EF, RR
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP
2004 | Range Restricted
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I. Goverment Printer, Wellington.
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 explanata Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/myosotis-explanata/ (Date website was queried)