Myosotis glauca
Synonyms
Myosotis pygmaea var. glauca G.Simpson et J.S.Thomson
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 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable | Qualifiers: De, DP, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable | Qualifiers: De, DP, SP
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered
Distribution
Endemic, North and South Islands. In the North Island known from one site in the southern Kaimanawa Range. In the South Island known from widely scattered sites from Canterbury, Central Otago and northern Southland.
Habitat
Open, dry sandy, gravelly ground or clay pans. Often in wind ablated scrapes, and shows a marked preference for base rich substrates. Usually found growing in small patches often in the vicinity of scabweeds. It has also been found growing admist Muehlenbeckia axillaris (Hook.f.) Endl. mats.
Features
Decumbent, biennial or perennial herb, forming small, circular patches on open ground. Rosette rather open, sparsely leafy. Petiole broad 5(-10) mm long. Leaves 10-30 x 5-8 mm, glaucous green or grey, obovate to spathulate, apex obtuse or rounded, rarely subacute, base narrowly cuneate to attenuate; upper surface clad in short, stiff, sparse tightly appressed hairs. Lateral branches few, decumbent, 50-100 mm long, extending well beyond rosette leaves, rather openly branching, internodes 10-15 mm long. Stem leaves similar to rosette-leaves. Bracts up to 8 x 6 mm, rather leafy, obovate. Inflorescences cymose, cymes simple, few- to many-flowered, subtended by leafy bracts throughout, internodes < bracts, often rather short. Pedicels 1.5-2 mm long. Calyx 3-5 mm long, elongating to 4-8 mm long in fruiting material, lobes deeply cut to half calyx length, lobes subacute, hairs few, confined in lines to margins and on vertical lines of calyx, very short, stiff and coarse. Flowers white. Corolla 3 mm diameter, corolla tube cylindric 0.4-0.6 mm, lobes very narrow, apex obtuse; stamens on short filaments, anthers 0.5-0.8 mm, wholly included within corolla tube, anther tips obscured, rarely reaching scales; style 0.1-0.3, stigma capitate. Nutlets 1.2-1.5 x (0.8-)1-1.2 mm, brown-black to grey-black, broadly ovate.
Similar taxa
Myosotis glauca is allied to M. brevis, M. drucei and M. pygmaea. From these species M. glauca can be distinguished by the biennial to perennial habit, glaucous-green to grey leaf colour, the sparse, erect, stiff and short calyx hairs, and by the very broadly ovate nutlets (seeds).
Flowering
(August-) September to December (however sporadic flowering may occur throughout the year)
Flower colours
White
Fruiting
September to January (however fruits may be found throughout the year)
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed but short-lived and difficult to maintain for any length of time. Dislikes humidity.
Threats
Seriously threatened by weed invasion of the dry, open sites it requires.
Etymology
myosotis: Mouse-eared
glauca: Bloom has thin powder
Where To Buy
Not commercially available.
Comments on taxonomy
Myosotis pygmaea var. glauca was elevated to species rank by de Lange and Barkla in de Lange et al. (2010).
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for the NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 14 April 2006. Description by P.J. de Lange and subsequently published in de Lange et al. (2010).
References and further reading
de Lange, P.J.; Heenan, P.B.; Norton, D.A.; Rolfe, J.R.; Sawyer, J.W.D. 2010: Threatened Plants of New Zealand. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Myosotis glauca Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/myosotis-glauca/ (Date website was queried)