Scandia rosifolia
Common names
koheriki
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Flower colours
White
Detailed description
Semi-erect to somewhat openly sprawling, woody, aromatic shrub up to 1 × 1 m. Stems much-branched, woody at base, dark green to yellow green when young, maturing orange-brown; at first ascending soon spreading, rarely scrambling an rooting from nodes. Leaves alternate, pinnate; petioles 5-20 (or more) mm long, subcoriaceous, slender, seathing base broadly 2 lobed; leaflets 2–5–(8) pairs, 25–80 × 10–40 mm, dark green, glossy above, paler and dull below, subsessile to sessile, obliquely ovate, ovate-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, acute to acuminate, margins finely to deeply serrated; each leaflet subtended by a narrow, fleshy pair of stipules. Inflorescences umbellate. Umbels numerous, compound, axillary and terminal, on slender peduncles up to 30 mm long, umbels up to 800 mm diameter (usually much less). Primary rays numerous, slender up to 30 mm long; secondary rays shorter, umbellules densely flowered. Flowers white. Calyx teeth narrow-triangular. Mericarps 3–4.5 mm long, yellowish buff to pale orange-yellow, dark yellow or orange, ovate to broadly ovate, oblong to broadly oblong to broadly elliptic or circular, surface semi-glossy, finely bullate or reticulate, ribs 5, the two commissural broadly and evenly winged or more broadly winged toward the base; style remnant erect and straight.
Similar taxa
Within the indigenous New Zealand Apiaceae this species is extremely distinctive, It could not be confused with any other species. The presence of the interfoliar stipules are particularly distinctive—they are not known from any other apiaceous plant present in New Zealand.
Two forms are evident in the field. One has broader, rounder leaves and is strictly coastal, the other has narrower lanceolate leaves and is usually found inland on cliff faces (often on limestone or calcareous rocks) or along river gorges. There are other subtle differences as well. However, around the Hicks Bay East Cape area both forms meet and intergrade. Further study is needed.
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: North Island (Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands south to Taranaki in the west and the southern Ruahine Ranges in the east).
Habitat
Coastal to subalpine (0–1400 m a.s.l.). Usually on cliff faces, clay banks or amongst boulders, often found along cliffs lining river gorges, more rarely in scrub.
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 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT, PD
Threats
This species has declined from significant parts of its range, and while it is still at times locally common, in many locations it is now represented by only small scattered populations or even single plants. In the 2017 NZ Threat Classification System assessment, its conservation status was changed from ‘At Risk – Declining’ to ‘Threatened – Nationally Critical’ to recognise this decline (de Lange et al. 2018). The largest populations reflect the situation, they are cliff bound in sites inaccessible to all browsing animals, even possums.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
Angelica rosaefolia Hook., Anisotome rosaefolia (Hook.) Hook.f.
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
Yes
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
September–June
Fruiting
November–August
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed and semi-hardwood cuttings. This is a beautiful small shrub for a sunny situation. Plants can tolerate a range of conditions but flourish best in free draining, fertile soils. Makes and excellent pot or container plant. The leathery leaves are rather strongly flavoured but make an interested addition to a summer salad if eaten before they are fully mature.
Other information
Plant of the Month
This plant has been featured as a Plant of the Month – see Trilepidea: NZPCN newsletter for February 2015 for the full story.
Etymology
rosifolia: Rose-leafed
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.
SCAROS
Chromosome number
2n = 22
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 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DP, PD
2012 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: DP
2009 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: DP
2004 | Sparse
Regional conservation statuses
Auckland: 2025 | Regionally Threatened – Regionally Endangered | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT, NStr, PF, RR, RF
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Auckland conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation status of vascular plant species in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland” Simpkins E et al. (2025) report.
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Allan HH. 1961. Flora of New Zealand, Volume I. Indigenous Tracheophyta: Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledones. Government Printer, Wellington, NZ. 1085 p.
Dawson JW. 1967. New Zealand Umbelliferae. Lignocarpa gen. nov. and Scandia gen. nov. New Zealand Journal of Botany 5(3): 400–417. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.1967.10428755.
de Lange PJ, Rolfe JR, Barkla JW, Courtney SP, Champion PD, Perrie LR, Beadel SM, Ford KA, Breitwieser I, Schönberger I, Hindmarsh-Walls R, Heenan PB, Ladley K. 2018. Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 22. Department of Conservation, Wellington, NZ. 82 p. https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/science-and-technical/nztcs22entire.pdf.
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared by P.J. de Lange (1 August 2004). Description based on Allan (1961—as Angelica rosifolia) and Dawson (1967)
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Scandia rosifolia Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/scandia-rosifolia/ (Date website was queried)