Plagiochila baylisii
Common name
Liverwort
Synonyms
None (first described in 1971)
Family
Plagiochilaceae
Flora category
Non-vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Liverworts
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.
PLABAY
Current conservation status
- Conservation status of New Zealand mosses, 2014 (PDF, 583.87 kB)
The conservation status of 109 New Zealand moss taxa was assessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). Four taxa and one undescribed entity that were not included in previous assessments have been added to the list. The conservation status of only two taxa has changed in this assessment. A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for mosses. Authors: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Allan J. Fife, Jessica E. Beever, Patrick J. Brownsey and Rodney A. Hitchmough.
- Conservation status of New Zealand hornworts and liverworts, 2014 (PDF, 695.44 kB)
The conservation status of the New Zealand hornwort and liverwort flora is reassessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the most important changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for New Zealand hornworts and liverworts which previously had been part of a generic bryophyte conservation status assessment that included mosses. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, David Glenny, John Braggins, Matt Renner, Matt von Konrat, John Engel, Catherine Reeb and Jeremy Rolfe.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR
Previous conservation status
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Critical
Distribution
Endemic. South Island, Fiordland.
Detailed description
Plants medium-sized, 20.0-30.0 x 2.8-3.5 mm, pale brown to pale greenish-yellow; leafy shoot erect or more or less ascending from a long creeping caulid, rhizome. Stem bright brown, 15-17 cells in cross-section. Plants mostly simple, rarely branched, rather rigid, branching lateral-intercalary, very rarely terminal; descending flagella sometimes developed at the base of branches and/or lower portion of stem. Rhizoids absent from aerial portion, restricted to rhizomatous caulid and/or flagella. Leaves moderately to closely imbricate, obvolute, decurved along dorsal margin, moderately decurrent dorsally but obscurely so ventrally, widely ovate or triangularly ovate, as wide or nearly as wide as long, 1600-1875 x 1340-1700 microns, dorsal margin more or less convex or nearly straight, with 1-7 spinose or spinose-ciliate, strong teeth which are 1-4 cells wide at base, 2-8 cells long; ventral margin strongly ampliate at base with truncate basal margin, with 7-13 variable, spinose to spinose-ciliate teeth, these 1-3 cells wide x 2-8 cells long, with sharp, elongate, terminal cell; leaf apex narrowed, nearly always with 2 distinct, large, coarse teeth or incipient lobs and sometimes 1-2 additional small teeth. Underleaves vestigial, oblong or bilobed to near base. Asexual reproduction not seen. Males unknown. Gynoecia terminal on leading stem, with 1-2 innovations; bracts ovate-oblong 1000-2100 x 850-2000 microns, strongly inflated at the base, with revolute or strongly recurved dorsal margins bearing 4-9 spinose teeth; ventral margin more or less undulate, bearing 10-15 spinose teeth, apex with 2 conspicuous teeth; perianth cylindrical c.1200-2700 x 700-1600 microns, dorsal and ventral keels not winged, mouth slightly to distinctly bilabiate, margin arched, strongly and irregularly spinose-dentate. Capsule valves comprised of 6-8 cells, 62-82 microns thick. Spores 15-20 microns, coat subglobose, minutely punctate; elaters c. 10 x 800-1300 microns, often once branched, bispiral.
Fruiting
Fruiting period unknown
Threats
Originally known from only a single gathering. Fieldwork within Fiordland has now ascertained that Plagiochila baylisii is fairly widespread though narrow-range endemic
Substrate
Terricolous on peat in coastal forest.
Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange 3 January 2009.