The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Scandia rosifolia

Etymology

rosifolia: rose-leafed

Common Name(s)

Koheriki

Current Conservation Status

2018 - Threatened - Nationally Critical

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 - At Risk - Declining
2009 - At Risk - Declining
2004 - Sparse

Qualifiers

2012 - DP
2009 - DP

Authority

Scandia rosifolia (Hook.) J. W. Dawson

Family

Apiaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

SCAROS

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

Angelica rosaefolia Hook., Anisotome rosaefolia (Hook.) Hook.f.

Distribution

Endemic. North Island, from the Three Kings south to Taranaki in the west and the southern Ruahine Ranges in the east.

Habitat

Coastal to subalpine (0-1400 m a.s.l.). Usually on cliff faces, clay banks or amongst boulders, often found along cliffs lining river gorges, more rarely in scrub.

Features

Semi-erect to somewhat openly sprawling, woody, aromatic shrub up to 1 x 1 m. Stems much-branched, woody at base, dark green to yellow green when young, maturing orange-brown; at first ascending soon spreading, rarely scrambling an rooting from nodes. Leaves alternate, pinnate; petioles 5-20 (or more) mm long, subcoriaceous, slender, seathing base broadly 2 lobed; leaflets 2-5(-8) pairs, 25-80 x 10-40 mm, dark green, glossy above, paler and dull below, subsessile to sessile, obliquely ovate, ovate-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, acute to acuminate, margins finely to deeply serrated; each leaflet subtended by a narrow, fleshy pair of stipules. Inflorescences umbellate. Umbels numerous, compound, axillary and terminal, on slender peduncles up to 30 mm long, umbels up to 800 mm diameter (usually much less). Praimry rays numerous, slender up to 30 mm long; secondary rays shorter, umbellules densely flowered. Flowers white. Calyx teeth narrow-triangular. Mericarps 3-4.5 mm long, yellowish buff to pale orange-yellow, dark yellow or orange, ovate to broadly ovate, oblong to broadly oblong to broadly elliptic or circular, surface semi-glossy, finely bullate or reticulate, ribs 5, the two commissural broadly and evenly winged or more broadly winged toward the base; style remnant erect and straight.

Similar Taxa

Within the indigenous New Zealand Apiaceae this species is extremely distinctive, It could not be confused with any other species. The presence of the interfoliar stipules are particularly distinctive - they are not known from any other apiaceous plant present in New Zealand.

Flowering

September - June

Flower Colours

White

Fruiting

November - August

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from fresh seed and semi-hardwood cuttings. This is a beautiful small shrub for a sunny situation. Plants can tolerate a range of conditions but flourish best in free draining, fertile soils. Makes and excellent pot or container plant. The leathery leaves are rather strongly flavoured but make an interested addition to a summer salad if eaten before they are fully mature.

Threats

This species is extremely palatable and it is greedily consumed wherever plants are accessible to browsing animals. It is evident that the current conservation assessment of At Risk/Sparse while possibly biologically accurate is not longer appropriate. This species has declined from significant parts of its range, and while it is still at times locally common, in many locations it is now represented by only small scattered populations or even single plants. The largest populations reflect the situation, they are cliff bound in sites inaccessible to all browsing animals, even possums.

Chromosome No.

2n = 22

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

Yes

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 12 Dec 2014