Stellaria multiflora subsp. multiflora
Synonyms
Stellaria elatinoides Hook.f.
Family
Caryophyllaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
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) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. 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. Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Extinct
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Extinct
2009 | Extinct
2004 | Extinct
Distribution
Indigenous. Australia (extant), New Zealand, North Island and South Island. In the North Island known only from collections made from the southern Hawke’s Bay (Lake Rotoatara, Colenso, September 1845 (this lake was drained in 1888)). It was also reported from Cape Kidnappers. In the South Island from the Canterbury Plains (Ashburton), the Waitaki Valley (Kurow) and from Central Otago.
Habitat
Lowland to montane, along lake sides, in river beds, and other seasonally damp habitats. Sparse herbarium annotations suggest it grew in short grass near lake margins. One collection from the Ashburton River has Raoulia monroi and Stellaria gracilenta mixed within it.
Detailed description
Tufted, glabrous, dark green to glaucescent, annual herb 15-40 mm tall. Stems decumbent to weakly suberect, usually several arising from base. Leaves dark green or glaucous. Petiole short 1-2 mm. Lamina 3-5 mm long, narrow-oblong or oblanceolate, apex subacute to acute, base cuneate. Flowers solitary; peduncles slender 3-10 mm, erect. Bracts leaf like. Sepals 2-3 mm, lanceolate, narrowly ovate-lanceolate, to linear-lanceolate, weakly 1-veined; margins finely but irregularly toothed. Petals absent. Stamens 5-10. Capsule ovoid or globose, < or = sepals. Seeds red-brown, 0.6-0.7 mm, surface with large, rounded tubercles.
Similar taxa
Not closely allied with any of the other nine indigenous and exotic species present in New Zealand. The glaucescent to dark green leaves, diminutive tufted annual habit, and apetalous flowers readily distinguish it from the other Stellaria species in New Zealand.
Flowering
October - November
Fruiting
October - November
Propagation technique
Unknown.
Threats
In New Zealand this species seems to have declined and gone extinct because of habitat modification and possibly the spread of weeds into its marginal turf and ephemeral wetland habitats. It was last collected in New Zealand in 1921 (Heenan 2019).
Etymology
stellaria: Star flower
multiflora: From late Latin, feminine of multiflorus meaning ‘bearing many flowers’
Attribution
Fact Sheet by P.J. de Lange (15 August 2008). Description adapted from de Lange et al. (2010).
References and further reading
de Lange, P.J.; Heenan, P.B.; Norton, D.A.; Rolfe, J.R.; Sawyer, J.W.D. 2010: Threatened Plants of New Zealand. Christchurch, Canterbury University Press. 471pp.
Heenan, P.B. 2019: Taxonomic notes on the New Zealand flora: the status of the extinct herb Stellaria elatinoides (Caryophyllaceae) and recognition of Stellaria multiflora subsp. multiflora from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 57: https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2019.1645705
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Stellaria multiflora subsp. multiflora Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/stellaria-multiflora-subsp-multiflora/ (Date website was queried)