The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Celmisia durietzii

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

Common Name(s)

Durietz's 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 durietzii Cockayne & Allan

Family

Asteraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

CELDUR

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites

Synonyms

None

Distribution

Endemic. South Island: Marlborough south. Stewart island plants included here by Allan (1961) appear to be an allied but as yet undescribed species endemic to that island.

Habitat

Montane to alpine grassland, herbfield, and fellfield. Sometimes rupestral on rock outcrops and tors.

Features

Robust subshrub with stout simple to multicipital stock; branches ± arcuate, clad in persistent imbricate leaf-remnants; living leaves rosulate, spreading, at tips of branchlets. Lamina ± 30-60 × 7-10 mm, narrow-elliptic, elliptic-obovate to subspathulate (often varying on same plant), subcoriaceous; upper surface glabrous, usually with deciduous pellicle when young (in some forms clad in soft white tomentum); lower densely clad in white appressed silky soft hairs, midrib evident; apex obtuse to subacute; margins minutely obscurely denticulate, gradually narrowed to rather slender petiole up to ± 30 mm long. Sheath translucent, glabrous, ± 25 × 5 mm, longitudinal veins prominent. Scape stiff, rather stout, finely ribbed, glabrous or nearly so, ± 200 mm long; lower bracts tomentose below, up to c. 30 mm long (lowest often foliaceous), upper less hairy below, midrib evident. Capitula 30-40 mm diameter; involucral bracts ± reflexed, glandular-pubescent, up to 12 mm long, linear, subcoriaceous, midrib distinct, margins pilose, apical part with tuft of floccose hairs. Ray-florets c.15 mm long, white, tube almost filiform, limb narrow-obovate, c. 3 mm broad. Disk-florets numerous, slender, tubular, only slightly flaring, 6-7 mm long, teeth minute, narrow-triangular. Achenes narrow-cylindric, ± 5-6 mm long, densely clad in fine silky subappressed hairs. Pappus-hairs very slender, white, up to c.7 mm. long, hardly barbellate

Similar Taxa

Allied to Celmisia haastii, C. cockayniana, C. lindsayi and C. bonplandii species from which it differs by the leaves which are 30-60 x 70-100 mm, translucent, glabrous sheath (25-40 x 5 mm) and achenes which are evenly covered in silky hairs. Ecologically Celmisia lindsayi is a coastal species, while C. bonplandii prefers wetter habitats. Both C. lindsayi and C. bonplandii have much wider leaves, and seeds which are sparsely hairy. Celmisia cockayniana had longer, wider leaves and is confined to Marlborough, while C. haastii has glabrous seeds, longer and wider leaves, and a yellowish-green sheath. Stewart Island plants treated as C. durietzii by Allan (1961) and those from Fiordland appear to be allied but as yet unnamed species.

Flowering

October - March

Flower Colours

White,Yellow

Fruiting

November - May

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from fresh seed and hardwood cuttings. Reasonably easy to grow but dislikes humidity and cannot tolerate drying out. Best grown in a rockery or within a pot in an alpine house.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 108

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 31 Jul 2014