Myosotis traversii var. traversii
Common name
Travers forget-me-not
Synonyms
Myosotis cockayniana Petrie; Myosotis traversii var. cockayniana (Petrie) Cheeseman
Family
Boraginaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites
Chromosome number
2n = 48
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 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. South Island: Mountains of Nelson, Marlborough, and North Canterbury (mostly east of the main divide).
Habitat
Montane to alpine. In active to semi-stable scree and shingly places
Features
Tufted perennial herb dying back to rootstock in winter. Rosettes one or several, leaves spathulate, 20-70 × 4-9 mm, petiole broad and ill-defined; hairs copious on both surfaces, those on abaxial surface shorter, finer, sparser and distinctly retrorse, few (if any) hooked. Lateral branches ascending or erect, up to 200 mm long, internodes usually < leaves. Upper stem-leaves 12-20 mm long, oblong with rounded tips, hairs not hooked. Cyme compound, usually ebracteate, 8-12-flowered, distinctly capitate in flower and fruit, carried 10-20 mm above leaves in fruit; internodes and pedicels very short. Calyx up to 5 mm long in flowers, cut to half calyx length, subacute; short appressed hairs covering whole surface closely, associated with conspicous, sparser long spreading coarse, hooked hairs. Corolla lemon-yellow to white, c. 4 mm diameter, tube c.5 mm long, cylindric, lobes c. 1·5 × 1·3 mm, rounded; filaments very short, anthers c.1·2 mm long, with tips projecting above well-developed scales; style usually much > calyx in fruit, stigma capitate. Nutlet oblong, c.2.0-3.0 × 1.0-1.6 mm, ovate to ovate-elliptic.
Similar taxa
Myosotis traversii is distinguished from all other inidgenous myosoti by the erect ebracteate cymose inflorescences, and calyx-hairs which are of two distinct types, (i) short, fine, straight and closely appressed, and (ii) long, coarse, spreading and usually hooked. These attributes and its preference for scree and rock habitats make it a well marked species. Of the three recognised varieties, M. traversii var. traversii is the more northerly and it differs from both var. cantabrica and var. cinerascens by the absence of hooked (uncinate) hairs on the under-surface of the stem-leaves. However, the status of Myosotis traversii var. cantabrica and var. cinerascens needs further exploration - as var. cinerascens (currently regarded as extinct) seems very close to var. cantabrica.
Flowering
December - March
Flower colours
White, Yellow
Fruiting
February - April
Propagation technique
Unknown. Likely to be difficult. Probably best grown in an alpine house or rock garden
Etymology
myosotis: Mouse-eared
traversii: Named after William Thomas Locke Travers (1819-1903) who was an Irish lawyer, magistrate, politician, explorer, naturalist, photographer. He lived in New Zealand from 1849 and was a fellow of the Linnean Society.
Where To Buy
Not commerciallyavailable
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.
Citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Myosotis traversii var. traversii Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/myosotis-traversii-var-traversii/ (Date website was queried)