The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Apium prostratum subsp. denticulatum

Etymology

Apium: The ancient Latin name for celery or parsley. Believed to be derived from the Celtic word apon 'ditch' and refers to the watery habitat of many species
prostratum: prostrate

Common Name(s)

Chatham Island celery

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 - Range Restricted

Qualifiers

2012 - RR
2009 - IE

Authority

Apium prostratum subsp. denticulatum P.S.Short

Family

Apiaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

APIPSD

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

None

Distribution

Endemic to the Chatham and Antipodes islands

Habitat

Coastal. Found on rock shorelines, boulder and sand beaches, on basalt, limestone and schist outcrops and in coastal turf. Also common amongst driftwood and kelp, and within saltmarshes and seepages near the sea. On the outer islands often found in association with burrowing petrels, and so may on occasion be found within tall forest.

Features

Perennial, glabrous, prostrate herb. Stems prostrate, sprawling, often ascending though surrounding vegetation, not rooting at nodes; 0.3-1.2 m long, up to 6 mm diam. Leaves dark green to yellow green, basal ones on long, slender petioles up to 500 mm (usually much less); pinnately 3-foliolate to 1-2-pinnate with 3-7 leaflets, segments ovate, obovate to cuneate, denticulate; leaves opposite umbels up to 600 mm long; leaflets all primary, 3-5, divided, with margins of primary segments denticulate due to the large number of secondary and tertiary segments, ultimate sgements to tertiary order, c.50-120. Inflorescences in compound umbels, sessile or pedunculate; peduncle usually present. 2-20 mm x 1-3 mm, usually ebracteate, sometimes one present present, this usually shedding early in umbel maturation. Rays 10-20, 0.4-8 mm long. Petals off-white to cream, with yellow-brown mid vein, ovate 0.75-1.5 x 0.5-1.0 mm, constricted at base, apex acute. Stamens about length of petals, filaments pale yellow to cream; anthers whitre or pale yellow, 0.3-0.4 x 0.3-0.4 mm. Ovary glabrous, stylopodium disciform; style 0.25-0.40 mm. Mericarps (1.5-)2.0-2.7 mm long, ovate to ovate-oblong, apex narrowed to persistent withered calyx teeth and style remnant, base broad and rounded to weakly cordate; ribs prominent, broad, rounded and spongy. Surface dull yellow to pale brown.

Similar Taxa

Apium prostratum subsp. denticulatum is endemic to the Chatham and Antipodes islands. It differs from A. prostratum subsp. prostratum var. filiforme by the leaves opposite the umbels up to 60 mm long; primary leaflets 3-5, leaflets or segments markedly denticulate with 6-36 secondary segments per leaflet only. Garden celery (Apium graveolens L.) has been reported wild on the Chatham Islands and can look very similar. However, it is an erect, biennial herb with filiform ribs on the mericarps (fruits).

Flowering

(July-) October - February

Flower Colours

Cream,Yellow

Fruiting

(September-) February (-May)

Propagation Technique

Easy from fresh seed and rooted pieces. The stems are edible and very pleasant tasting.

Threats

Not Threatened. Listed because it is a local endemic, abundant on all the main Chatham and Antipodes islands.

Chromosome No.

2n = 22

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 23 Jun 2013