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  4. Selliera microphylla

Selliera microphylla

Selliera microphylla - Taruarau.<br>Photographer: Nicholas J. D. Singers, Licence: All rights reserved. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Selliera microphylla - Taruarau.<br>Photographer: Nicholas J. D. Singers, Licence: All rights reserved. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Chromosomes 2n = 56. Matea Swamp, Kaingaroa Plain.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>.
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Common name

mountain selliera

Family

Goodeniaceae

Authority

Selliera microphylla Colenso

Flora category

Vascular – Native

Endemic taxon

Yes

Endemic genus

No

Endemic family

No

Structural class

Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites

Chromosome number

2n = 56

Current conservation status

  • Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017

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. New Zealand: North Island (Central Volcanic Plateau and adjacent mountains). Possibly also the South Island (this requires further investigation - see Similar Species and Taxonomic Notes)

Habitat

Montane to alpine. In permanently to seasonally damp, open sites and depressions such as within marginal turf of lake and ponds

Features

Perennial, ± succulent creeping herb forming matted patches up to 0.2 m in diameter. Stems and branches, 0.7-1.0 mm diameter, white or yellowish, procumbent held near at or just below substrate surface, widely spreading, rooting at nodes yellowish. Leaves, 1-4 borne in a fascicles along stem, alternate, appressed to ground, coriaceous, (± succulent), dark green, glabrous, glossy; petioles 1.2-4.3 mm long, slender flattened; lamina 3-8 × 0.6-1.2 mm, narrowly spathulate, obovate-spathulate, linear-spathulate to linear, base attenuate to truncate, apex acute. Inflorescences single, arising in leaf axils, borne on stout fleshy, bracteate peduncles 1.2-3.6 mm, bracts 0.6-1.1 x 0.2-0.8 mm, narrowly lanceolate, falcate, green, erect; pedicels 1-4 mm long; bracts 0.2-0.7 × 0.1-0.3 mm, subulate-attenuate. Flowers solitary. Calyx persistent, calyx lobes 0.6-1.0 x 0.3-0.8 mm, linear to narrow-triangular, green, distally flushed red, apex acute; corolla 4-6 x 4-10 mm; petals 5 fused in proximal part, inner surface white to pale blue, outer white, pinkish-white to pale red; petal segments 4-6 x 1.0-1.4 mm, lanceolate to narrow-oblong, falcate, acute to acuminate. Ovary 0.8-1.0 mm, green, glabrous. Style purple-red, stigma glabrous, orange brown. Stamens 3, orange-brown. Fruit 2.0-4.1 x 2.0-6.0 mm, obovoid to ovoid, truncate, green. Seeds 1.0-1.8 mm long, broadly ovate, broadly elliptic to almost circular, biconvex, pale orange yellow to pale brown, winged, wing < 1 mm wide, margin irregular, wrinkled, translucent.

Similar taxa

Selliera microphylla is only doubtfully distinct from S. radicans which is an extremely variable species. Traditionally botanists have segregated S. microphylla from S. radicans on the basis of it being a smaller plant of mountains and alpine areas. However, such plants, when cultivated at lower altitudes grow larger and so fall within the range of variation currently accepted for S. radicans. Webb & Simpson (2001) note that seeds of S. microphylla have a narrower wing (< 0.1 mm wide) than those of S. radicans but are otherwise indistinguishable. Nevertheless cytologically there is some support for S. microphylla (see de Lange & Rolfe 2010) but this needs further investigation. Thus as a precautionary measure, until such a study is done this species is accepted here as distinct from S. radicans. Selliera microphylla is readily distinguished from S. rotundifolia a strictly coastal species with rotund, orbicular leaves

Flowering

October - April

Fruiting

December - May

Propagation technique

Easily grown from fresh seed and by the division of established plants. Does best in a permanently damp site in full sun. Not particularly fussy about soil fertility.

Etymology

selliera: After Sellier

microphylla: Small leaf

Taxonomic Notes

Doubtfully distinct from Sellieria radicans. Sellieria microphylla is said to differ mainly by its smaller size and inland distribution. However, in cultivation plants revert to forms indistinguishable from S. radicans. Nevertheless while both Sellieria radicans and S. rotundifolia have 2n = 16 a single gathering of S. microphylla from the Kaingaroa Plain had 2n = 56 chromosomes. Further study is needed.

Attribution

Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 28 June 2012. Description from herbarium material and fresh plants except for the seed description which is modified from Webb & Simpson (2001).

References and further reading

de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R. 2010: New Zealand Indigenous Vascular Plant Checklist. Wellington, New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. 164pp.

Webb, C.J.; Simpson, M.J.A. 2001: Seeds of New Zealand gymnosperms and dicotyledons. Christchurch, The Caxton Press. 428 p.

NZPCN Fact Sheet citation

Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Selliera microphylla Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/selliera-microphylla/ (Date website was queried)

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