Scandia geniculata
Common name
scandia
Synonyms
Peucedanum geniculatum G.Forst., Angelica geniculata (G.Forst.) Hook.f., Anisotome geniculata (G.Forst.) Hook.f., Gingidia geniculata
Family
Apiaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
Yes
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
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.
SCAGEN
Chromosome number
2n = 22
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). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By 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.
2012 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. North and South Islands. In the North Island from Kapiti Island and Paekakariki south and east to about Tora, in the South Island from Marlborough to southern Otago.
Habitat
Coastal to montane in rock strewn ground, at the base of talus slopes, on cliff faces, rock ledges and along river gorges, within tall and short tussock grassland and growing up through or intermixed with shrubs in grey scrub communities.
Features
Long creeping, lianoid, woody to subwoody, aromatic perennial shrub froming interwoven, tangled masses up to 3 x 3 m (especially when sprawling through other shrubs). Branches few, somewhat wiry and pliant, grooved, yellow green to glaucous green. Leaves alternate, juveniles and reversion shoots 1-3-foliolate, adult leaves 3-lobed or simple; petioles up to 10 mm long, often twisted, flexuous; basal sheaths broad, eitherside furnished with 2 blunt lobes; leaflets up to 12 mm diameter, dark green, yellow-green or glaucous green above, glaucous below, orbicular, rhomboid to reniform, truncate to cordate at base, crenulate to subentire, subcoriaceous. Umbels axillary and terminal, compound up to 10 mm diameter, on peduncles up to 20 mm long; rays 2-6, 5-9 mm long, slender. Calyx-tetth minute; petals white, flexed at apices. Mericarps 4.5-7.5 mm long, semi-glossy, pale orange-yellow, brown, dark yellow or orange, oblong or oblong-ellptic, apex rounded and flattened, style remnant twisted or recurve, base cordate, ribs 5, the 2 commissural broadly and evenly winged.
Similar taxa
None. The remarkable lianoid growth habit is unique to this species, while the simple or 3-lobed, orbicular to reniform dark green, yellow-green to glaucous green leaves, and flexuose twisted petioles immediately distinguish this plant from any other apiaceous plants present in New Zealand.
Flowering
October - July
Flower colours
White
Fruiting
December - June
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed. An attractive and unusual scrambling scrub that makes an excellent hanging basket plant and ground cover for a free draining, sunny site. It dislikes humidity and excessive moisture.
Etymology
geniculata: From the Latin geniculum ‘knee’, meaning ‘on bended knee’, often used in reference to plants with stems bent on an angle
Where To Buy
Not commercially available.
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared by P.J. de Lange (1 August 2004). Description based on Allan (1961 - as Angelica geniculata) and Dawson (1967)
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I. Government Printer, Wellington.
Dawson, J. W. 1967: New Zealand Umbelliferae. Lignocarpa gen. nov. and Scandia gen. nov. New Zealand Journal of Botany 5: 400-417.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Scandia geniculata Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/scandia-geniculata/ (Date website was queried)