Thismia rodwayi
Common names
Thismia
Biostatus
Native
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Monocots
Flower colours
Orange, Red/Pink
Detailed description
Saprophytic, reddish, pinkish or pinkish-white glabrous plant growing within deep leaf litter. Roots sparse, 1-1.5 mm diameter, branching at 10-20 mm intervals, with each fork producing an unbranched erect set 5-20 mm long. Scale leaves sparse, ovate, acute with the largest three just below flower, these 5 x 2 mm. Flower up to 20 mm long, solitary, terminal red, red-orange rarely white with orange striping. Perianth-tube 10 x 8 mm, turbinate, translucent; outer lobes 4 x 1 mm, narrow-triangular, erect or reflexed; inner lobes 4-5 x 2.5 mm, arching inwards and firmly connate above to form a mitre with broad fenestrae in its sides, the projecting keel of the inner lobe produced into a free appendage that varies in length. Stamens pendent from short, usually red annulus; free filaments short, incurved; anthers broader and connate into a pale tube that reaches halfway down perianth-tube; pollen sacs small, widely separated; connectives delicately membranous and elaborately lobed. Nectaries 6, below anthers, each lying on the line of junction of 2 adjacent connectives and enclosed within a membranous pouch. Ovary short-turbinate, 1.5 x 2 mm, upper surface concave; style stout, 1 mm.; stigmas truncate-obovate, bilobed; ovules with long funicles, crowded on stalked placentae. Fruit fleshy, the upper portion becoming chartaceous and transparent at maturity to expose numerous brown seeds.
Similar taxa
None.
Distribution
Indigenous. In New Zealand recorded only from the North Island where it has been reported from near the Hokianga Harbour, Waipoua and Trounson Forest, Hakarimata Range, Mt Pirongia, Te Kauri Scenic Reserve, Walter Scott Reserve, near Taumarunui, Taurewa, near Ketetahi Springs (Tongariro), Taurewa, and at Opepe Scenic Reserve. Easily overlooked. Present in Australia.
Habitat
A saprophytic plant that has been found in coastal to montane forest and shrubland, where it usually grows in deep leaf litter near the base of trees. It has been found in association with a wide variety of tree and shrub species but most recent records come from cut over forest margins or regenerating forest.
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 – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: Sp, DPS, DPT, T?O
Threats
An apparently naturally uncommon, biologically sparse species. However, it is extremely small, usually occurring partially buried in leaf litter, and so it is often mistaken for a fungus. It is probably more overlooked than it is truly uncommon. This species is often found by accident in leaf litter.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Thismiaceae
Synonyms
Bagnisia hillii Cheeseman; Sacrosiphon rodwayi (F. Muell.) Schlt.
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
November - February
Fruiting
December - March
Propagation technique
A saprophytic plant which will not grow in cultivation. Should not be removed from the wild.
Other information
Where To Buy
Not commercially available.
Etymology
thismia: Thismia is an anagram of the legume genus Smithia. Smithia honours Sir James Edward Smith (1759-1828) co-founder and first president of the Linneaen Society of London,botanist and physician.
rodwayi: In honour of Leonard Rodway (1853-1936) a London trained dentist who arrived in Hobart in 1880. Remembered for his contribution to the study of Tasmanian botany.Leonard served as honorary government botanist from 1896 to 1932 and during this time he produced The Tasmanian Flora (1903) which became a standard reference for forty years.
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, T?O, Sp
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, Sp, T?O
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, SO, EF
2004 | Sparse
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Bell, R. 1971. Thismia rodwayi at Pirongia. Wellington Botanical Society Bulletin, 37: 67
Moore, L.B.; Edgar, E. 1970: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. II. Government Printer, Wellington.
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared by P.J. de Lange (1 August 2004). Description based on Moore & Edgar (1961).
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Thismia rodwayi Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/thismia-rodwayi/ (Date website was queried)