Phlegmariurus billardierei
Common names
hanging clubmoss
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Lycophytes (clubmosses, selaginella, quillworts)
Similar taxa
Easily recognised by the usually epiphytic life style and pendent branches which divide dichotomously, into portions of equal diameter. The bases of these usually produce roots. In this species the sporophylls are smaller than the sterile leaves, and aggregated into quadrangular (4-angled) strobili. Phlegmariurus billardierei is distinguished from P. varius by its generally longer, pendent, more divided stems, and especially by the strobili. These are distinct from the sterile leaves, unlike those of P. varius, where the transition from leaf to sporophyll is gradual.
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: Kermadec Islands (Raoul Island), Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands, North Island, South Island and Stewart Island/Rakiura, Chatham Islands.
Habitat
Coastal, lowland to montane forest (generally uncommon in montane forest). Usually eiphytic, occasionally terrestrial—and then often on cliff faces or on boulder field.
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – these interim threat classification statuses has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2023 | Not Evaluated
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Lycopodiaceae
Endemic taxon
Yes
Other information
Etymology
billardierei: Named after Jacques Houttou de Labillardiere (1755-1834), 19th century French botanist who described several New Zealand plants
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.
PHLBIL
Chromosome number
2n = c.256
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Brownsey PJ, Perrie LR. 2020. Lycopodiaceae. In: Breitwieser I, Wilton AD. Flora of NewZealand - Ferns and Lycophytes. Fascicle 27. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln. https://doi.org/10.7931/kyrt-4p89.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Phlegmariurus billardierei Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/phlegmariurus-billardierei/ (Date website was queried)