Picris angustifolia subsp. merxmuelleri
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: DPS, DPT, SO
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledonous composites
Flower colours
Yellow
Detailed description
Annual to perennial herb 0.8-.3 m tall. Stem slender, branched or unbranched, often bearing scapose stems. Indumentum of 2-hooked, bristly hairs. Leaves dark-green. Rosette leaves numerous, horizontal, petiolate, lamina 60-300 x 5-35 mm, narrowly oblanceolate to lanceolate, entire or deeply dentate; stem leaves fewer, or absent, if present becoming smaller toward plant apex. Lower stem leaves 50-300 x 6-35 mm, almost entire or dentate, terminal leaves bracteate, rarely thread-like. Inflorescences usually in cymose panicles or solitary on scapose stems. Capitula 10-16 mm long, 5-10 mm diam. Involucrum of 20-30 bracts in 2(-3) irregular outer and 2 inner rows, at flowering inner bracts twice length of outer. Bracts usually with a single line of 2-hooked anchor or bifid hairs along midrib on outer surface. Capitula with 30-80 yellow flowers. Achenes 4-6.6 mm long, narrowly fusiform. Cuspis short, 0.4-1.8 mm long., Achene ribs 30-50. Pappus 6-9.5 mm long, pappus rays 40-70.
Similar taxa
For distinctions from Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Holub. and P. burbidgeae S.Holzapfel see under P. burbidgeae.
P. angustifolia subsp. merxmülleri differs from P. angustifolia DC subsp. angustifolia by its usually cymose panicle. The indumentum of the outer involucral bracts is usually fine, hairs if present are usually in a single or double line. Also it differs by the shorter achenes and cuspis. The cuspis is from 1/4 - 1/6 of the total length.
Distribution
Indigenous. In New Zealand known only from the South Island. From the Nelson area is it known from a historic gathering made from Fox Hill. It is otherwise known from Central Otago (the Remarkable Range, and around Lake Wakatipu), and from the shores of Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau, in Southland. Present in south eastern Australia and Tasmania.
Habitat
Open ground on montane lake margins, within beech (Fuscospora / Lophozonia) forest, and at the bush line. Occasionally on cliff faces or within grey scrub communities.
Threats
Uncertain. It does appear to have died out from the Nelson area where it is known only from historic gatherings made in the late 1800s from near Fox Hill by Thomas Cheeseman. All other gatherings come from the Central Otago and Lakes district of Southland. In Central Otago, in suitable habitats it can be common, and because it is more often found above the tree line it is less susceptible to the same factors that threaten P. burbidgeae. Its exact status in Southland, where it is known from several 1960/1970s gatherings made from Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri needs clarification. It is unlikely to have died out from there it has more probably been mistaken for a weed and so overlooked.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
None. 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.
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
October - May
Fruiting
October - June
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. However, unlike P. angustifolia subsp. angustifolia and P. burbidgeae this plant does better in cooler climates, and will not persist in humid conditions.
Other information
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
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, SO
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, SO
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: EF, DP
2004 | Sparse
Regional conservation statuses
Otago: 2025 | Regionally Data Deficient
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Otago conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation Status of Indigenous Vascular Plants in Otago, 2025” Jarvie S et al. (2025) report.
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. merxmuelleri Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/picris-angustifolia-subsp-merxmuelleri/ (Date website was queried)