Species
Blindia seppeltii
Common Name(s)
moss
Current Conservation Status
2009 - 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
2004 - Range Restricted
Qualifiers
2009 - RR, ?SO
Authority
Blindia seppeltii J.K. Bartlett et Vitt
Family
Seligeriaceae
Flora Category
Non Vascular - Native
Structural Class
Moss
Synonyms
None (first described in 1986)
Distribution
Endemic. Auckland, Campbell and Macquarie Islands.
Features
Autoicous moss up to 60 mm long, glossy, yellow-brown to olive-green when terrestrial, dark-brown to black when aquatic, forming mats or cushions. Stems with thick-walled outer stem cells, central strand present. Leaves erect-flexuose to falcate-secund, similar to spreading-erect when moist, lamina 5.0-8.0 mm long from an oblong-lanceolate base, more or less gradually narrowed to a long slender subula, acute, subula at least 2-3x as long as lamina; margins entire; nerve 40-100 microns wide, well defined, filling the subula. Upper cells 25-100 x 6-10 microns, rectangular-elongate, thick-walled, clear and distinct. Lower cells 35-120 x 6-10 microns, rectangular-elongate, thick-walled, clear and distinct. Alar cells 20-40 x 10-18 microns, not or poorly differentiated, rectangular-oblong, mostly hyaline, thin-walled, basal cells decurrent. Perichaetial leaves broader near base and quickly narrowed to subula. Seta 5,0-13.0 mm long, variable in length, very stout, thick, usually rigid, flexuose to erect when moist and dry, brown to black. Capsules 1.0 x 1.0 mm, small hemispheric-obovate when moist, when old turbinate to obconic, rarely hemispheric, black, variably exserted, Exothecial cells 20-50 x 10-25 microns, elliptic to narrowly rectangular, most longer than wide, thick-walled, pachydermous, rim cells quadrate-rounded, not oblate. Stomates not seen. Peristome of 16, lanceolate,a cute teeth, well-developed, fragile and often missing on old capsules. Operculum conic rostrate, beak more or less oblique. Spores 16-40 microns.
Fruiting
Although fruit has been seen insufficient information exists to provide any details on the timing of fruiting
Threats
Not Threatened. Listed because it is a naturally uncommon, range restricted species.
Endemic Taxon
Yes
Endemic Genus
No
Endemic Family
No
Notes
This species is treated as endemic because although found on Macquarie Island which is part of geopolitical Australia, Macquarie Island is part of the New Zealand Botanical Region(see de Lange & Rolfe 2010).
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (6 November 2007). Description adapted from Bartlett & Vitt (1986).
References and further reading
Bartlett,J.K.; Vitt, D. H. 1986: A survey of the species in the genus Blindia (Bryopsida, Seligeriaceae). New Zealand Journal of Botany 24: 203-246.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R. 2010: New Zealand Indigenous Vascular Plant Checklist. Wellington, New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. 164pp.
This page last updated on 25 Jul 2014