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  4. Myriophyllum robustum

Myriophyllum robustum

Acute leaf tip outline.<br>Photographer: Erik van Eyndhoven, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Detail of emergent foliage and flowers, ex. cult.<br>Photographer: John Smith-Dodsworth, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Myriophyllum robustum in fruit, Whangamarino Wetlands.<br>Photographer: Bec Stanley, Date taken: 01/12/1998, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0'>CC BY-SA</a>.
Myriophyllum robustum.<br>Photographer: Peter J. de Lange, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Myriophyllum robustum.<br>Photographer: Peter J. de Lange, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Submerged foliage of Myriophyllum robustum at Lake Rotohokahoka.<br>Photographer: John F. Hobbs, Licence: All rights reserved.
Myriophyllum robustum plants growing in shallow lake, Lake Rotohokahoka, Mokaihaha, Mamaku Plateau, April 2005,.<br>Photographer: Paul Cashmore, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0'>CC BY-SA</a>.
Myriophyllum robustum plant showing emergent and submerged leaves, Lake Rotohokahoka, Mokaihaha, Mamaku Plateau, April 2005.<br>Photographer: Paul Cashmore, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0'>CC BY-SA</a>.
Myriophyllum robustum plants emergent from water and surrounded by Myriophyllum propinquum, Lake Rotohokahoka, Mokaihaha, Mamaku Plateau, April 2005.<br>Photographer: Paul Cashmore, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0'>CC BY-SA</a>.
Emergent foliage of Myriophyllum robustum at Lake Rotohokahoka.<br>Photographer: John F. Hobbs, Licence: All rights reserved.
Egmont National Park.<br>Photographer: John Barkla, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Ship Creek.<br>Photographer: Mike Thorsen, Date taken: 09/08/2013, Licence: All rights reserved. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Ship Creek.<br>Photographer: Mike Thorsen, Date taken: 09/08/2013, Licence: All rights reserved. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Lake Kaiwai, Northland.<br>Photographer: Rohan Wells, Licence: All rights reserved. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
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Common name

stout water milfoil

Synonyms

Myriophyllum variaefolium var. beta Hook.f.

Family

Haloragaceae

Authority

Myriophyllum robustum Hook.f.

Flora category

Vascular – Native

Endemic taxon

Yes

Endemic genus

No

Endemic family

No

Structural class

Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites

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.

MYRROB

Chromosome number

2n = 28

Current conservation status

  • Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017

The threat classification 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) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website 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. Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – a suggested threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.

Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

2017 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: Sp

Previous conservation statuses

2012 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: Sp

2009 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: EF, Sp

2004 | Gradual Decline

Distribution

Endemic to the North and South Islands. In the North Island known now only from Northland to Taranaki and the northern Rangitikei. In the South Island only known from North West Nelson, the West Coast and Fiordland

Habitat

Shallow peaty lakes, slow flowing streams, dune ponds, and in muddy or seasonally flooded ground in alluvial forest.

Wetland plant indicator status rating

Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland).

OBL: Obligate Wetland

Almost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands (non-wetlands).

Features

Perennial aquatic herb which if in pools of water is firmly rooted to the bottom. Stems spongy, inflated up to 1.5 m long, emergent portion 300 mm tall, erect to prostrate. Submerged leaves in whorls of (4-)5-7, (15-)20-35 x (4-)6-10 mm finely divided, pectinate with 26-32 pinnae, brown, these diminishing in size toward water surface. Emergent leaves glaucous, tinged red, narrowly ovate to oblong, apex acute, otherwise similar to submerged leaves. Flowers perfect. Sepals 4, ovate to deltoid 0.6-0.8 x 0.5-0.6 mm, petals 4, weakly hooded, 2.5-4 x 1-1.5 mm. Fruits globular to slightly turbinate, 1.5-2 x 2-2.5 mm.

Similar taxa

Similar to the naturalised M. aquaticum (Vell.) Verdc. From which it differs by being monoecious (males and females on the same plant), the exposed stems usually pink coloured and by the leaf tipes which are acute rather than blunted ended

Flowering

September - March

Fruiting

October - April

Propagation technique

Easy in a pond or in permanently damp soils. Can be grown from division of rooted pieces, by cuttings and seed. An attractive plant which should be more widely grown.

Threats

Threatened by wetland drainage, eutrophication, and the spread of naturalised wetland weeds.

Etymology

myriophyllum: Many leaves

robustum: Sturdy

Cultural Use/Importance

Myriophyllum robustum is proving popular as an aquarium and pond plant.

Attribution

Fact Sheet Prepared by P.J. de Lange (1 April 2007). Description based on fresh plants and herbarium material - see also Orchard (1979)

References and further reading

Orchard, A.E. 1979: Myriophyllum (Haloragaceae) in Australasia. 1. New Zealand: a revision of the genus and a synopsis of the family. Brunonia 2: 247-287.

NZPCN Fact Sheet citation

Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Myriophyllum robustum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/myriophyllum-robustum/ (Date website was queried)

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