Plagiochila fragmentisima

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Species

Common Name(s)

Liverwort

Current Conservation Status

2009 - Data Deficient

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

Authority

Plagiochila fragmentisima Inoue et R.M.Schust.

Family

Plagiochilaceae

Flora Category

Non Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Liverwort

Synonyms

None (first described in 1971)

Distribution

Endemic. South Island: Fiordland National Park.

Habitat

Corticolous on the bark of beech (Nothofagus spp.) and rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum) where it has been recorded growing in association with Cuspidatula monodon.

Features

Plants yellowish-white to pallid whitish-green above, more or less tawny or yellowish-brown, medium or large in size, rigid, erect, shoot-apices subhamate, or more or less coiled 20-60 x 2.0-3.4 mm, basal 2/3 of shoot almost denuded because of caducous and fragmenting leaves; shoot arising from rhizomatous, creeping, ramified caulid. Stem pale above, deep brown below, c.500 microns thick, 17-19 cells in cross-section. Branches irregular, infrequent or few, plants mostly subsimple but subfloral innovations frequent, vegetative branches always lateral-intercalary in origin, arising from lateral leaf axils. Leaves closely imbricate, freely fragmenting, brittle, often all leaves except for basal and subbasal portions and near shoot apex, fragmented or dropped, resulting in denuded stem; leaves strongly revolute, recurved along dorsal margin, more or less laterally appressed when immature (near shoot apex), before fragmentation subtriangularly ovate-oblong, 1.5-2.0 x 1.7-2.1 mm, immature leaves strongly ampliate at the ventral base, apex narrowly rounded or nearly truncate, dorsal margin more or less arched, long decurrent at base, strongly deflexed-revolute; margin entire or with several (2-5) small teeth on ventral side, especially near gynoecia. Underleaves absent. Rhizoids frequent on lower rhizomatous portion. Male plants not seen. Female inflorescences more or less laterally compressed, terminal on leading stem, often with 1-2 innovations; bracts erect-appressed, similar to subinvolucral leaves in size and shape, dorsal margin strongly revolute and decurved, inflated at base, with many remote, small marginal, apical and ventral teeth; perianth cyathiform, c.3.5 x 3.0 mm with distinct, more or less wide or narrow wing on dorsal keel, mouth wide, bilabiate to truncate or slightly arched, entire or with a few weak teeth.

Fruiting

Fruiting period unknown

Threats

Listed as Data Deficient as it is only known from a few gatherings from coastal forest in Fiordland National Park. The bryophyte flora of this huge, mountainous national park is still very poorly known, and it is difficult to see how this species could actually be threatened. Further survey is needed.

The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network