Myosotis glabrescens
Synonyms
None
Family
Boraginaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
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 | Data Deficient
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Data Deficient
2004 | Data Deficient
Distribution
Endemic. Known only from one site and a few gatherings made in the Hector Range, east of Lake Wakatipu. Strangely, this plant may be better known in Scotland where it is grown by alpine enthusiasts (see: http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3383.30)
Habitat
Probably strictly alpine. Plants occur on mid-stream or marginal gravel deposits in the headbasin of alpine streams. May occur in other habitats.
Features
Compact, cushion-forming herb to 50 cm diam. Branches horizontal, up to 5 cm, numerous, rooting freely at nodes. Stems copiously covered in overlapping erect hairs. Leaves very broadly spathulate, crowded toward ascending branchlet tips, 5 × 2-3 mm, at first copiously covered in short, stiff, appressed hairs, which become wider-spaced as leaf matures. Flowering branches lateral, almost hidden amongst leaves. Flowers almost stalkless (sessile), subtended by a few elliptic to broad elliptic subacute stem-leaves. Calyx 2-4 mm long, with lobes split to half the calyx length, these narrow, acute, with a rather sparse covering of appressed hairs. Corolla white, 5 mm diameter, tube cylindric, 4 mm long, lobes 2 × 1-1.5 mm, oblong. Stamens with short filaments, anthers 1 mm long, mainly held above corolla-scales. Style = anthers, elongating to much > calyx in fruit. Seeds 2 mm.
Similar taxa
Closest to two other cushion-forming species with solitary flowers, M. pulvinaris and M. uniflora. From M. pulvinaris M. glabrescens differs by the anthers held above the corolla scales and M. pulvinaris forms a domed circular cushion. M. uniflora has yellow flowers and leaves that are distinctly narrower than wide. Field recognition: only alpine Myosotis which forms a streamside ground-contouring mat.
Flowering
No information available
Flower colours
White
Fruiting
No information available
Propagation technique
Grow in free-draining gravel. Plants irregularly flower at lower altitudes
Threats
Myosotis glabrescens is known only from one recently-discovered locality (with c. 6 plants), the type specimen collected by Donald Petrie in February 1890 and one or two other collections made in the 1980s. It is for this reason that it has been listed as Data Deficient.
Etymology
myosotis: Mouse-eared
glabrescens: Becoming hairless
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 1 February 2008. Description based on Allan (1961).
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I. Goverment Printer, Wellington.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Myosotis glabrescens Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/myosotis-glabrescens/ (Date website was queried)