Species

Physcomitrella patens subsp. readeri

Etymology

patens: Spreading

Common Name(s)

Moss

Current Conservation Status

2009 - 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

2004 - Threatened - Nationally Critical

Qualifiers

2009 - DP, EF, RR, ?SO

Authority

Physcomitrella patens subsp. readeri (Mull.Hal.) B.C.Tan

Family

Funariaceae

Flora Category

Non Vascular - Native

Synonyms

Physcomitrella austro-patens G.Roth; Physcomitridium readeri (C.M.) G.Roth.

Distribution

Indigenous. Australia and New Zealand. North and South Islands

Features

Minute densely tufted plants with leaves forming terminal rosettes. Stems c.0.5 mm tall, simple. Leaves 1.50-1.75 mm long, comose at apex of stem, sparse, irregularly spaced and small below; lamina obovate or spathulate, obtuse or subacute; margins plane, bluntly serrulate towards apex.; nerve failing below apex. Cells 60-80 microns long and 2-3 x 1, subhexagonal; rectangular and longer below, smooth and pellucid. Seta up to 2 mm long, reddish. Capsule very fragile, up to 2 mm long, slightly exserted, widely oval to nearly spherical and near sessile, light-brown with a darker apex, cleistocarpous, with a differentiated conical apiculus. Calyptra mitriform, long and narrow above, with the widened part covering only a small portion of the capsule and with the archegonium neck sometimes adhering. Spores 30-37 microns, dark-brown, echinulate

Fruiting

Although fruit has been seen insufficient information exists to provide any details on the timing of fruiting

Threats

Extremely vulnerable to tall, shade tolerant weeds such as Tradescantia, Glyceria and other subaquatic or shade tolerant plants inhabiting river margins. Also vulnerable to changes in water levels.



This page last updated on 17 Jul 2011