Species

Brachythecium allisonii

Common Name(s)

moss

Current Conservation Status

2009 - Range Restricted

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

Authority

Brachythecium allisonii Fife

Family

Brachytheciaceae

Flora Category

Non Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Moss

Synonyms

Brachythecium subpilosum var. angustifiolium Allison

Distribution

Endemic. South Island: Canterbury (Craigieburn and Rolleston Ranges), Otago (Flagstaff Hill).

Habitat

Montane to alpine. On earth, rock, or rotten wood; one collection came from a seepage area.

Features

Medium, soft, yellowish-green, moss forming loose mats. Stems prostrate subpinnately or irregularly branched, yellowish, c.75 mm, in cross-section, brown below, with smooth rhizoids (in bunches on lower side of leaf bases). Branches variable in length. Stem leaves erect-spreading, symmetric, keeled, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate from a weakly auriculate base, evenly tapered to a narrowly acuminate apex, irregularly recurved or not at margins, concave, slightly decurrent ornot, serrulate in lower two-thirds (often more strongly near base), entire or nearly so near apex, 2.6–3.3 × 1.0 mm. Branch leaves somewhat smaller, 2.0–3.0 × 0.5–0.8 mm, strongly serrulate above. Nerve c. 30 µm wide, 1/2–3/4 the length of the leaf (often obscured by leaf plications), with or without a terminal abaxial spine. Upper laminal cells smooth, firm-walled, linear, 90–120 × 5–7 µm, basal cells shorter in c.3–5 rows, alar cells quadrate to irregularly oblong, forming a rather large but indistinct alar group (smaller in branch leaves). Autoicous. Perichaetial leaves acuminate from an oblong base, erect. Perigonia scattered on stems, c.1 mm long, bracts broadly ovate bracts, paraphyses filiform. Setae 13–28 mm, papillose throughout, c. 240–310 µm diameter, weakly twisted to the left below and to the right above, orange to red-brown. Capsules horizontal, asymmetric, 2.5–3.0 mm long, oblong-ovoid, yellowish-brown. Operculum conic, very shortly apiculate. Spores 14–18 µm, nearly smooth.

Similar Taxa

Brachythecium allisonii could be confused with Palamocladium leskeoides. However P. leskedoides is a basicole, virtually confined to limestone and marble. It has a more strongly toothed lower leaf margin and cordate leaf base and is often a subtle pinkish-golden hue unlike the yellowish-green of the present species.

Fruiting

Present throughout the year

Threats

Known from three sites where it is locally common. Probably more widespread as its habitat is primarily alpine. Further surveys are needed to ascertain its exact status.

This page last updated on 25 Jul 2014