Simplicia buchananii
Common name
simplicia
Synonyms
Poa uniflora Buchanan, Simplicia laxa var. buchananii Zotov
Family
Poaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
Yes
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Grasses
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.
SIMBUC
Chromosome number
2n = 28
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 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DP, RR, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DP, RR, Sp
2004 | Range Restricted
Distribution
Endemic to New Zealand. Known from three sites in the southern North Island near Taihape, and from North West Nelson, in the South Island. Plants from the North Island are somewhat intermediate between S. buchananii and S. laxa and require further study.
Habitat
Exact preferences unclear, though a preference for base-rich substrates and semi-shaded situations in forest or near rock overhangs is evident. In the South Island it has usualyl been collected on or near limestone or marble outcrops in lowland to montane forest. The recently (2005) discovered North Island site differs somewhat in that plants grow in and around the bases of titoki (Alectryon excelsus Gaertn. subsp. excelsus) trees on river terraces. However, even here the underlying substrate is calcareous mudstones and siltstones
Features
Weakly erect to scrambling or loosely tufted, slender grass forming patches up to 1 m across and 05 m tall. Leaf-sheath membranous, strongly ribbed, mostly scabrid on ribs; basal sheaths dark brown, pubescent, upper sheaths glabrous or pubescent. Ligule 2-4 mm, erose, undersides glabrous. Leaf-blade 100.0-200.0 x 1.5-4.0 mm, smooth or finely scabrid on ribs; margins finely scabrid, apex acuminate. Culm internodes glabrescent or finely pubescent. Panicle 40-180 mm long, ± linear (in north-west Nelson, often sparingly branched or pyramidal in North Island); rachis glabrous, branches short or long, mostly erect, basal 1 or 2 sometimes reflexed, sometimes basal branches widely spreading; glabrous, bearing spikelets almost to base, pedicels short, glabrous, ± appressed to branchlets. Spikelets 2.8-3.0 mm, 1(-2)-flowered, lanceolate, light green. Glumes glabrous, ovate-lanceolate to ovate, acute to subacute, margins ciliate; lower 0.7-1.0 mm, upper 1.0-1.5 mm. Lemma mostly equivalent in length to spikelet, scabrid or shortly pubescent, 3-nerved or with 2 additional fainter lateral nerves, ovate-lanceolate, acute to mucronate, or with a subapical awnlet. Pale 2.3-2.7 mm, 1-2-nerved, scabrid. Rachilla prolongation 0.5 mm long, glabrous. Anthers 0.7-1.3 mm long, purplish or yellow. Seed 1.5 mm long.
Similar taxa
Simplicia laxa mainly differs by its more or less pyramidal rather than mostly linear inflorescence, spreading to reflexed rather than contracted inflorescence branches, and by the lemma which is shortly pubescent rather than scabrid. These distinguishing characters separate north-west Nelson populations of S. buchananii from other South Island populations of S. laxa but North Island found near Taihape are clearly intermediate. These plants may have scabrid or pubescent lemma, and may have linear, pyramidal, or intermediate inflorescences. Further research on whether S. buchananii is truly distinct from S. laxa is now underway.
Flowering
(September-) November (-Febaruary)
Flower colours
Green
Fruiting
(October-) January (-May)
Propagation technique
Very easy from fresh seed and rooted pieces. Can be grown from node cuttings. Does best in pots. Unlike S. laxa, this species flowers easily in cultivation, setting abundant seed, which in turn germinates easily. However, it is very short-lived, and plants need to be divided and repotted frequently to maintain them
Threats
A local endemic which can apparently be locally common but most sites are very small. However, only one South Island population is currently known and the status of other populations in NW Nelson needs examination.
Etymology
buchananii: Named after John Buchanan (13 October 1819-1898) who was a New Zealand botanist and scientific artist and fellow of the Linnean Society.
Comments on taxonomy
nrDNA ITS sequences show that both S. buchananii and S. laxa have hybrid origins. Recently discovered plants in the southern North Island have variously branched, contracted and sub-pyramidal panicles, thus further diminishing the distinctions between either species.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (27 october 2009). Description adapted from Zotov 1971.
References and further reading
Zotov, V. D. 1971. Simplicia T. Kirk (Gramineae). New Zealand Journal of Botany 9: 539-544.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Simplicia buchananii Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/simplicia-buchananii/ (Date website was queried)