Species
Acaena pallida
Etymology
Acaena: From the Greek 'akanthos' thorn, referring to the spiny calyx that many species have
pallida: From the Latin pallidus 'pale or pallid'
Current Conservation Status
2018 - At Risk - Declining
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
2012 - Not Threatened
2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened
Authority
Acaena pallida (Kirk) Allan
Family
Rosaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Native
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites
Distribution
Indigenous. Southern North and South Islands, Stewart and Chatham Islands. Also S.E. Australia and Tasmania
Flower Colours
Red / Pink
Chromosome No.
2n = 42
Endemic Taxon
No
Endemic Genus
No
Endemic Family
No
Life Cycle and Dispersal
Spiny hypanthia are dispersed by attaching to fur, feathers and clothing and possibly also dispersed by wind and granivory (Thorsen et al., 2009)
References and further reading
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 2009 Vol. 11 No. 4 pp. 285-309
This page last updated on 4 Dec 2014