Phlegmariurus billardierei
Common name
hanging clubmoss
Family
Lycopodiaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Structural class
Lycophytes (clubmosses, selaginella, quillworts)
Chromosome number
2n = c.256
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) – 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.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. 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. Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Not Evaluated
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.
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.
Etymology
billardierei: Named after Jacques Houttou de Labillardiere (1755-1834), 19th century French botanist who described several New Zealand plants
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)