Species

Celmisia sinclairii

Etymology

Celmisia: Apparently named after Kelmis, one of Idaean Dactyls, a group of skilled mythical beings associated with the Mother Goddess Rhea in Greek mythology. Kelmis, whose name means ‘casting’, was a blacksmith and childhood friend of Zeus, son of Rhea and later king of the gods. In Ovid’s ‘Metamorphoses’, Kelmis is described as offending Zeus who turned him into adamant so he was as hard as a tempered blade
sinclairii: After Sinclair (c. 1796–1861). Colonial Secretary and naturalist.

Common Name(s)

Sinclairs mountain daisy

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Celmisia sinclairii Hook.f.

Family

Asteraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

CELSIN

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.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites

Synonyms

None

Distribution

Endemic. South Island: Nelson and Marlborough from the Richmond Range and Wairau Mountains south to the St Arnaurd Range and upper Clarence.

Habitat

Montane to subalpine. Mainly in grassland and herbfield. Occasionally on rock outcrops

Features

Small low-growing subshrub with stems branching from near base; branches short, ascending to spreading, clad in persistent leaf-remnants; living leaves rosulate at tips of branchlets. Lamina bright green, glabrous on both surfaces, ± 50-70 × 15 mm, obovate, obovate-elliptic to elliptic-spathulate, membranous; lower surface with conspicuous midrib; apex obtuse to subacute, apiculate; margins entire to obscurely denticulate, gradually narrowed to short petiole, then expanded into striate, glabrous, thin sheath ± 25 × 6 mm. Scape slender, almost glabrous, ± 150 mm long; bracts linear-subulate, 8-9 mm long, ± ciliolate. Capitula 30-40 mm diameter; involucral bracts linear-subulate, spreading, ± ciliolate at apex. Ray-florets numerous, linear, c. 8-12 mm long, obtuse. Disk-florets narrow-funnelform, c.5-6 mm long. Achenes silky-hairy on ribs. Pappus-hairs up to 6 mm long, slender, barbellate

Similar Taxa

Recognised by the glabrous leaves when form rosulate tufts at the branchlet tips

Flowering

November - February

Flower Colours

White,Yellow

Fruiting

December - April

Propagation Technique

Unknown. Probably best grown from fresh seed and like many Celmisia this species will probably dislike high humidity and drying out

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 108

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Pappate cypselae are dispersed by wind (Thorsen et al., 2009).

Where To Buy

Not Commercially available.

Attribution

Description adapted from Allan (1961)

References and further reading

Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I, Government Printer, Wellington.

Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285-309

This page last updated on 15 Aug 2014