Selliera microphylla
Common names
mountain selliera
Biostatus
Native
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Detailed description
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 × 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 × 0.3–0.8 mm, linear to narrow-triangular, green, distally flushed red, apex acute; corolla 4–6 × 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 × 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 × 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 Goodenia radicans which is an extremely variable species. Traditionally botanists have segregated Selliera microphylla from Goodenia radicans (as Selliera radicans) on the basis of it being a smaller plant of mountains and alpine areas. However, such plants, when cultivated at lower elevations grow larger and so fall within the range of variation currently accepted for Goodenia radicans. Webb & Simpson (2001) note that seeds of Selliera microphylla have a narrower wing (< 0.1 mm wide) than those of Goodenia radicans but are otherwise indistinguishable. Nevertheless cytologically there is some support for Selliera 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 Goodenia radicans. Selliera microphylla is readily distinguished from Goodenia heenanii a strictly coastal species with rotund, orbicular leaves.
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
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.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – these interim threat classification statuses has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- 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 – Declining | Qualifiers: CR, DPR, DPS, DPT
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Goodeniaceae
Taxonomic notes
Doubtfully distinct from Goodenia radicans. Sellieria microphylla is said to differ mainly by its smaller size and inland distribution. However, in cultivation plants revert to forms indistinguishable from Goodenia radicans. Nevertheless chromosomally while both Goodenia radicans and G. heenanii have 2n = 16 a single gathering of Selliera microphylla from the Kaingaroa Plain had 2n = 56 chromosomes. Further study is needed.
Shepherd et al. (2020) treated Selliera microphylla as part of their concept of Goodenia radicans. This is not followed here because there has not been a published treatment of Selliera microphylla, one North Island population of that species is cytologically distinct from Goodenia radicans and as noted above, further study is needed. The synonymisation in Shepherd et al (2020) was based on an opinion expressed to those authors from a New Zealand botanist that it was not distinct from G. radicans. Conversations with Dr Kelly Shepherd affirmed that none of the authors of Shepherd et al. (2020) had actually examined Selliera microphylla. As Selliera microphylla is under threat from land development and invasive weeds, it is felt its relegation into synonymy within a broad concept of Goodenia radicans without appropriate assessment is premature and from a conservation view point unwise (see Goodenia radicans).
As there is no valid combination published for Selliera microphylla in Goodenia, and to do so without a proper study into the problem would be unwise we retain the usage of Selliera for this plant.
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
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.
Other information
Etymology
selliera: After Sellier
microphylla: Small leaf
Chromosome number
2n = 56
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: DP
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
de Lange PJ, Rolfe JR. 2010. New Zealand indigenous vascular plant checklist. New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, Wellington, NZ. 131 p.
Webb CJ, Simpson MJA. 2001. Seeds of New Zealand Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons. Manuka Press, Christchurch. 428 p.
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).
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)