Picris angustifolia subsp. angustifolia
Common names
native oxtongue
Biostatus
Native
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.
- 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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp, DPR, DPS, DPT, EF, SO
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledonous composites
Flower colours
Yellow
Detailed description
Annual to perennial herb 0.4-1 m tall. Stem slender, base woody, usually branched at base or from upper half, dark green. Indumentum of 2-hooked, bristly hairs. Leaves yellow-green. Rosette leaves horizontal, petiolate, lamina 35-300 x 3-30 mm, narrowly ovate, oblanceolate to lanceolate, entire or deeply dentate; stem leaves similar, but fewer, horizontal to suberect, becoming smaller toward plant apex. Lower stem leaves 30-220 x 3-25 mm, upper 7-120 x 0.1-12 mm, terminal leaves bract or thread-like. Inflorescences in corymbose panicles. Capitula numerous, 9-16 mm long, 3-8 mm diam. Involucrum of 18-36 bracts in 2-3 irregular outer and 2 inner rows, at flowering inner bracts clearly longer than outer. Bracts usually with a single line of 2-hooked anchor or bifid hairs along midrib on outer surface. Capitula with 20-60 sulphur yellow flowers. Achenes 5-12.5 mm long, narrowly fusiform. Cuspis 1.2-7.4 mm long. Achene ribs 24-45. Pappus 5-10.5 mm long, pappus rays 45-70.
Similar taxa
For distinction from oxtongue (Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Holub) see under Picris burbidgeae S.Holzapfel. Picris angustifolia differs from P. burbidgeae chiefly by its involucrum. In this species the bracts are arranged in 2-3 rows, with the longest outer bracts rarely longer than 2/3 length of the innermost bracts (usually much shorter). All the bracts are straight and usually upright. For distinctions between P. angustifolia subsp. angustifolia and subsp. merxmülleri see under Cultural Use
Distribution
Indigenous. North Island where known historically from the Bay of Islands, otherwise still present around the Whangaruru Harbour and on the Hen and Chicken Islands. Also in Australia
Habitat
Open ground and amongst low shrubs and fern in coastal situations and on offshore islands.
Threats
Unclear. Like P. burbidgeae this plant is likely to have declined through the spread of more aggressive exotic weeds into the open disturbed habitats it requires. However, we have no direct evidence of this, beyond its apparent loss from the Bay of Islands (where it was first collected in New Zealand). Other than that P. angustifolia subsp. angustifolia seems to be holding its own in the Whangaruru area where it is quite common on some small islands and rocky headlands. Its exact status on the Hen and Chicken Islands is unclear. Whether it is present on the Mokohinau Islands needs confirmation, its presence there is hinted at by the presence of hybrids between it and P. burbidgeae.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
Picris attenuata A.Cunn., P. hieracioides var. glabrata Hook.f. In the most recent New Zealand flora treatment all indigenous Picris have been referred to Picris hieracioides L. as species collected here once as a naturalised weed, and to which none of our indigenous species are closely related.
Taxonomic notes
P. angustifolia subsp. angustifolia is distinguished from subsp. merxmülleri Lack et S.Holzapfel by its usually loose panicle. The indumentum of the involucral bracts is usually hispid, with hairs if present usually in more than a single line. Also it differs by the longer achenes and cuspis. The cuspis is from 1/5 – ½ of the total length. In P. angustifolia angustifolia the rosette leaves have usually withered off before flowering.
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
October - April
Fruiting
October - May
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh seed which usually germinates within one to two months. A somewhat unusual plant that is unlikely to prove popular in cultivation, and it can become invasive in some situations.
Other information
Etymology
angustifolia: From the Latin angustus ‘narrow, constricted’ and folius ‘leaf’, meaning narrow-leaved
Chromosome number
2n = 10
Previous conservation statuses
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.
- 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.
2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, EF, SO, Sp
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, EF, SO, Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: SO
2004 | Non-resident Native – Coloniser
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Holzapfel, S.; Lack, H. W. 1993: New species of Picris (Asteraceae, Lactuceae) from Australia. Willdenowia 23: 181-191.
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared by P.J. de Lange (1 November 2009). Description based on Holzapfel & Lack (1993) and fresh specimens.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Picris angustifolia subsp. angustifolia Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/picris-angustifolia-subsp-angustifolia/ (Date website was queried)