The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Picris angustifolia subsp. merxmülleri

Etymology

angustifolia: narrow-leaved

Common Name(s)

native oxtongue

Current Conservation Status

2012 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon

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 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - Sparse

Qualifiers

2012 - DP, SO
2009 - EF, DP

Authority

Picris angustifolia subsp. merxmülleri Lack et S.Holzapfel

Family

Asteraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites

Synonyms

None. In the most recent New Zealand flora treatment all indigenous Picris have been referred to Picris hieracioides L. as species collected here once as a naturalised weed, and to which none of our indigenous species are closely related.

Distribution

Indigenous. In New Zealand known only from the South Island. From the Nelson area is it known from a historic gathering made from Fox Hill. It is otherwise known from Central Otago (the Remarkable Range, and around Lake Wakatipu), and from the shores of Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau, in Southland. Present in south eastern Australia and Tasmania.

Habitat

Open ground on montane lake margins, within beech (Nothofagus) forest, and at the bush line. Occasionally on cliff faces or within grey scrub communities.

Features

Annual to perennial herb 0.8-.3 m tall. Stem slender, branched or unbranched, often bearing scapose stems. Indumentum of 2-hooked, bristly hairs. Leaves dark-green. Rosette leaves numerous, horizontal, petiolate, lamina 60-300 x 5-35 mm, narrowly oblanceolate to lanceolate, entire or deeply dentate; stem leaves fewer, or absent, if present becoming smaller toward plant apex. Lower stem leaves 50-300 x 6-35 mm, almost entire or dentate, terminal leaves bracteate, rarely thread-like. Inflorescences usually in cymose panicles or solitary on scapose stems. Capitula 10-16 mm long, 5-10 mm diam. Involucrum of 20-30 bracts in 2(-3) irregular outer and 2 inner rows, at flowering inner bracts twice length of outer. Bracts usually with a single line of 2-hooked anchor or bifid hairs along midrib on outer surface. Capitula with 30-80 yellow flowers. Achenes 4-6.6 mm long, narrowly fusiform. Cuspis short, 0.4-1.8 mm long., Achene ribs 30-50. Pappus 6-9.5 mm long, pappus rays 40-70.

Similar Taxa

For distinctions from Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Holub. and P. burbidgeae S.Holzapfel see under P. burbidgeae. P. angustifolia subsp. merxmülleri differs from P. angustifolia DC subsp. angustifolia by its usually cymose panicle. The indumentum of the outer involucral bracts is usually fine, hairs if present are usually in a single or double line. Also it differs by the shorter achenes and cuspis. The cuspis is from 1/4 - 1/6 of the total length.

Flowering

October - May

Flower Colours

Yellow

Fruiting

October - June

Propagation Technique

Easy from fresh seed which usually germinates within one to two months. A somewhat unusual plant that is unlikely to prove popular in cultivation, and it can become invasive in some situations. However, unlike P. angustifolia subsp. angustifolia and P. burbidgeae this plant does better in cooler climates, and will not persist in humid conditions.

Threats

Uncertain. It does appear to have died out from the Nelson area where it is known only from historic gatherings made in the late 1800s from near Fox Hill by Thomas Cheeseman. All other gatherings come from the Central Otago and Lakes district of Southland. In Central Otago, in suitable habitats it can be common, and because it is more often found above the tree line it is less susceptible to the same factors that threaten P. burbidgeae. Its exact status in Southland, where it is known from several 1960/1970s gatherings made from Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri needs clarification. It is unlikely to have died out from there it has more probably been mistaken for a weed and so overlooked.

Chromosome No.

2n = 10

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 7 May 2014