The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Carmichaelia astonii

Etymology

Carmichaelia: after Carmichael, a botanist
astonii: after Aston

Common Name(s)

Astons Dwarf Broom

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable

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 - Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable
2004 - Range Restricted

Qualifiers

2012 - RF
2009 - RF

Authority

Carmichaelia astonii G.Simpson

Family

Fabaceae

Brief Description

Rare low-growing shrub with many erect greenish-brown leafless branches inhabiting limestone sites in Marlborough. The many branches are orange-tipped, leafless, erect, flattened, 4-8 mm wide, grooved, with hairy young growth. Flowers pea-like, pink, with darker centre. Fruit in a dry pod which has an upturned tip.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

CARAST

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

None

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand: South Island (Eastern Marlborough in a small area south of Ward, encompassing the Flaxbourne, Mead, Waima (Ure) River catchments, Weld Cone, Ward Beach and the Chalk Range).

Habitat

A limestone endemic, restricted to sparsely vegetated rendzina and related steepland soils of medium to high fertility.

Features

Dwarf and spreading shrub, up to 0.2 × 0.5 m. Branches stout, ascending and horizontal, 10-25 mm diameter. Cladodes linear, striate, compressed, erect to spreading, green to green-bronze, frequently hairy when young (hairs sometimes retrorse), 30-95 × 4-8 mm; apex subacute to obtuse, yellow to yellow-green; leaf nodes 2-4. Leaves simple, obovate to oblanceolate, fleshy, green or green-bronze, present on seedlings, absent on adult plants, 6-8 × 2.0-5.5 mm; upper and lower surfaces hairy; apex emarginate to retuse; base cuneate; petiole hairy, c. 2 mm long. Leaves on cladodes reduced to a scale, triangular, glabrous, < 0.5 mm long; apex acute. Stipules free, triangular, 0.9-1.0 × 0.7-0.8 mm; upper surface glabrous; lower surface hairy, becoming glabrous with age; apex acute; margin hairy. Inflorescence a raceme, 1-4 per node, each with l-4 flowers. Peduncle hairy, green, 7-8 mm long. Bracts triangular, glabrous, pale green, < 1 mm long; apex acute; margin hairy. Pedicel hairy, pale green, 2.5-8.0 mm long. Bracteoles at top of pedicel, green and occasionally flushed red, < 0.5 mm long; apex acute; margin hairy. Calyx campanulate, 4.5-5.5 × c.2.0 mm; inner surface glabrous, green; outer surface hairy, green and occasionally flushed red. Calyx lobes narrow-triangular, green and usually flushed red, 2.0-2.5 mm long; adaxial surface densely hairy; apex acute; two upper lobes usually appressed to base of standard; three lower lobes spreading away from keel. Standard obovate, patent, positioned in central area of keel, weakly keeled, margins recurved, c.12 × c.8 mm; central area of upper surface purple, margins white, sometimes purple-veined; lower surface white with a darkened central part; claw pale green, c.3 mm long; apex emarginate and occasionally mucronulate. Wings oblong, shorter than keel, c.9.0 × c. 2.5 mm; distal area of upper surface purple, proximal area pale green; lower surface white, purple-veined; auricle triangular, pale green, 1.0-1.25 mm long; claw pale green, 2.5-3.0 mm long; apex acute. Keel c.10 × c.3.5 mm; distal area of upper surface purple, proximal area white or pale green; auricle triangular, pale green, c.1 mm long; apex obtuse; claw pale green, 3.5-4.0 mm long. Stamens 9-11.5 mm long. Pistil exserted beyond stamens, c.12 mm long; ovary weakly falcate, glabrous; ovules 8-16. Pod oblong or oblanceolate, compressed, light grey or brown, valves often partially dehiscent, 14.0-23.0 × 4.0-7.5 mm; beak stout, pungent, 1-2 mm long. Seeds oblong-reniform, 4-8 per pod, olive green, green-yellow, or dull yellow, occasionally with black mottling, 2.5-3.5 × 1.5-3.0 mm.

Similar Taxa

C. astonii is a allied to C. monroi Hook.f. and C. vexillata Heenan from which it is by its more robust growth habit; stouter cladodes; larger calyx, petals and pods; and by the long lower calyx lobes which spread away from the keel

Flowering

January - December

Flower Colours

Violet / Purple,White

Fruiting

December – April

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from fresh seed and hardwood cuttings. A very beautiful shrub that flourishes in a well drained, sunny situation. It does best on soil enriched in lime. Dislikes long periods of humidity.

Threats

A limestone endemic that is naturally restricted to a small geographical area. moderate-sized populations are known, and these appear to be secure though some are vulnerable to browse damage from goats, possums, and sheep. Of more concern is that seedlings are very rarely seen, and all populations are dominated by mature shrubs.

Chromosome No.

2n = 32

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Seeds are possibly dispersed by wind and granivory (Thorsen et al., 2009).

This page last updated on 31 May 2014