The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Ranunculus stylosus

Etymology

Ranunculus: From the Latin 'rana' frog, meaning little frog and probably refers to the plants typical marshy habit where frogs abound

Current Conservation Status

2012 - 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

2009 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - Range Restricted

Qualifiers

2012 - OL

Authority

Ranunculus stylosus H.D.Wilson et Garn.-Jones

Family

Ranunculaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

None

Distribution

Endemic. Stewart Island, Tin Range and Deceit Peaks.

Habitat

Subalpine (> 500 m a.s.l.) favouring rocky or open windswept shrubland, grassland and herbfield.

Features

Perennial herb forming solitary appressed rosettes or small patches in exposed habitats but in sheltered sites producing tufts up to 50 mm tall. Petioles 15-40 mm long, dark green, mottled with dark-purple, broadly-sheathing, scarious with ciliate bases. Leaves 9-14 x 9-14 mm, glossy dark green, broad-ovate to deltoid, simple, crenately lobed or toothed, or cut deeply to 1/2 way into main 3 lobes; lamina rigidly coriaceous, covered in pale buff hairs. Flowers solitary, 15-20 mm diameter; peduncles 20-40 mm long, stout, decumbent to ascending, dark green, mottled purple or purple throughout, very hairy, bracts 1-2 at base, these simple, narrow; sepals 5, fugaceous, green-margined, dark brown to near black beneath; petals 5-7, rather narrow, 7-10 x 3-4 mm, dark glossy yellow above, often blotched orange-brown to dark brown beneath; nectary near petal base, covered by oblong scale; stamens 15-20; receptacle sparsely hairy. Achenes 4-6, 3-5 mm long, brown blotched with dark brown, turgidly ellipsoid, beak slender, 2-2.5 mm, only slightly curved.

Similar Taxa

Closest to R. kirkii Petrie which is another Stewart Island endemic, from which R. stylosus differs by its rather thick, simple to 3-lobed (never ternate) leaves, much larger, solitary flowers, the near basal nectary, and narrower, turgid rather than flattened achenes with long (2-2.5 cf 0.5-1.2) usually only slightly curved beaks.

Flowering

December - January

Flower Colours

Green,Yellow

Fruiting

December - March

Propagation Technique

Easily grown in a pot or rock garden and reasonably tolerant of humidity and excessive moisture. Requires cold treatment to flower, and very prone to powdery mildew in humid or damp, warm climates.

Threats

Not Threatened. A narrow range endemic that it is often locally common within the small geographic area it naturally occupies.

Chromosome No.

2n = 48

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 7 May 2014