Neckeromnion lepineanum
Common names
moss
Biostatus
Native
Current conservation status
This is the first complete assessment of all known species of mosses found in the wild in Aotearoa New Zealand with a total of 560 species being assessed. The conservation status of mosses, published in the NZTCS database, replaces all previous assessments of mosses. Data supporting the 2025 NZTCS assessment of mosses has been published on the NZTCS database at https://nztcs.org.nz/reports/1155.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2025 | At Risk – Uncommon | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT, OL, S?O
Category
Non-vascular
Structural class
Mosses
Detailed description
Dioicous; robust plants, yellowish-green, glossy, in pendulous masses. Secondary stems up to 30 mm long, very flat, irregularly branches, to 6 mm wide with leaves. Leaves horizontally spreading, strongly undulate, broadly lingulate from a clasping, decurrent base, inflexed on one side below, broadly rounded or nearly truncate at apex, minutely crenulate above; costa very short and faint, with unequal forks; cells rhomboidal, with firm irregularly thickened walls, 5-6 µm wide and 3-6x as long, shorter at apex, more elongate and porose below. Sporophyte on a short, lateral branch; capsule immersed on a very short seta; peristome teeth papillose, segments of endostome narrow from a low basal membrane (n/b fruiting material not seen in Kermadec material).
Distribution
Indigenous. New Zealand: Raoul Island where it is known from several gatherings made in 2009 and 2011. Present throughout south-east Asia, Australia (Queensland), Papua New Guinea, and most of the larger Pacific Islands
Habitat
Corticolous on the trunk of nikau (Rhopalostylis baueri) and on the upper canopy branches of a range of forest trees typical of the ‘wet forest’ of Raoul island, Kermadec Islands group.
Substrate details
The Kermadec Islands gatherings came from wet forest on Raoul Island where planted were collected from the lower trunk of a nikau (Rhopalostylis baueri) amongst Plagiochila pacifica and fromt he fallen branches of Kermadec pohutukawa (Metrosideros kermadecensis)
Threats
Neckeromnion is known from several gatherings made in May 2009 and 2011 from the ‘wet forest’ type on the high ridges of Raoul Island (Moumoukai, Smiths Bluff Track) . It is probably more widespread on Raoul Island, however even if this is so it is obviously fairly uncommon as it is a very distinctive, large moss, which, were it more common would have been collected long before now. Although listed as Data Deficient by Glenny et al. (2011), this species probably now merits listing as “Naturally Uncommon” qualified OL (One Location), SO (Secure Overseas), Sp (Sparse). As far as is known there are no obvious threats to this species on Raoul Island, which is a nature reserve.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
Neckeropsis lepineana (Mont.) Fleisch
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Fruiting
Not seen in New Zealand specimens
Other information
Previous conservation statuses
This is the first complete assessment of all known species of mosses found in the wild in Aotearoa New Zealand with a total of 560 species being assessed. The conservation status of mosses, published in the NZTCS database, replaces all previous assessments of mosses. Data supporting the 2025 NZTCS assessment of mosses has been published on the NZTCS database at https://nztcs.org.nz/reports/1155.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2014 | Data Deficient
2010 | Data Deficient | Qualifiers: OL, SO
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Bartram, E.D. 1939: Mosses of the Philippines. The Philipine Journal of Science 68: 1-437.
Glenny, D.; Fife, A.J.; Brownsey, P.J.; Renner, M.A.M.; Braggins, J.E.; Beever, J.E.; Hitchmough, R. 2011: Threatened and uncommon bryophytes of New Zealand (2010 Revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 49: 305-327.
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange (5 July 2009). Description adapted from Bartram (1939).
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Neckeromnion lepineanum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/neckeromnion-lepineanum/ (Date website was queried)