Species

Brachyscome humilis

Etymology

Brachyscome: short hair (no papys on fruit)
humilis: Lowest, dwarf, small, slight

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 - Data Deficient
2004 - Range Restricted

Qualifiers

2012 - Sp

Authority

Brachyscome humilis G.Simpson et J.S.Thomson

Family

Asteraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

BRAHUM

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites

Synonyms

None (first described in 1943)

Distribution

Endemic. South Island: Central Otago (Rock and Pillar Range)

Habitat

Alpine. Inhabiting snowbanks and hollows above 1200 m.

Features

Perennial rosette herb, often forming loose mats. Leaves apetiolate, narrow- spathulate, mostly entire, rarely with 1-2 pairs of shallow teeth near apex, obtuse, glabrous, 5.0-10.0 × 1.0-1.5 mm. Peduncle naked, glabrous except for few glandular hairs below capitulum, 30-45 mm long and 0.3-0.6 mm diameter at flowering, elongating to up to 70 mm at fruiting. Involucral bracts elliptic to narrow-oblong, obtuse and fimbriate to apex, glabrous except for few glandular hairs at base, 2.5-3.0 mm long. Rays 12-22, white, c.3-5 mm long. Disc yellow. Achenes obovoid-oblong, compressed, eglandular, c.1.5 mm long; pappus of bristles c.0.3 mm long

Similar Taxa

Perhaps most similar to B. linearis - which is a species of marginal turf communities around lakes Te Anau, Manapouri and the Mavora Lakes. From that species it differs by its ecology (alpine in snow banks and hollows), larger flowers on longer scapes, hairy capitula and achenes, and longer ray florets.

Flowering

December – February

Flower Colours

White

Fruiting

January - April

Propagation Technique

Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.

Threats

Unclear. Probably a Naturally Uncommon species however this species remains very poorly known and until a comprehensive survey is undertaken ascertaining the exact conservation status of this species remains guesswork. It for this reason that it has been listed as Data Deficient. Furthermore, the status of similar plants found on the ultramafics of West Dome and the Livingston Range needs investigation

Chromosome No.

2n = 36-37, 37

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Pappate cypselae are dispersed by wind (Thorsen et al., 2009).

Attribution

Description from: Webb et al (1988)

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

Webb, C. J.; Sykes, W. R.; Garnock-Jones, P. J. 1988: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. IV. Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons. 4. Christchurch, New Zealand, Botany Division, D.S.I.R.

This page last updated on 25 May 2014