The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Scandia geniculata

Etymology

geniculata: From the Latin geniculum 'knee', meaning 'on bended knee', often used in reference to plants with stems bent on an angle

Common Name(s)

Scandia

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

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 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Scandia geniculata (G.Forst.) J.W.Dawson

Family

Apiaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

SCAGEN

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

Peucedanum geniculatum G.Forst., Angelica geniculata (G.Forst.) Hook.f., Anisotome geniculata (G.Forst.) Hook.f., Gingidia geniculata

Distribution

Endemic. North and South Islands. In the North Island from Kapiti Island and Paekakariki south and east to about Tora, in the South Island from Marlborough to southern Otago.

Habitat

Coastal to montane in rock strewn ground, at the base of talus slopes, on cliff faces, rock ledges and along river gorges, within tall and short tussock grassland and growing up through or intermixed with shrubs in grey scrub communities.

Features

Long creeping, lianoid, woody to subwoody, aromatic perennial shrub froming interwoven, tangled masses up to 3 x 3 m (especially when sprawling through other shrubs). Branches few, somewhat wiry and pliant, grooved, yellow green to glaucous green. Leaves alternate, juveniles and reversion shoots 1-3-foliolate, adult leaves 3-lobed or simple; petioles up to 10 mm long, often twisted, flexuous; basal sheaths broad, eitherside furnished with 2 blunt lobes; leaflets up to 12 mm diameter, dark green, yellow-green or glaucous green above, glaucous below, orbicular, rhomboid to reniform, truncate to cordate at base, crenulate to subentire, subcoriaceous. Umbels axillary and terminal, compound up to 10 mm diameter, on peduncles up to 20 mm long; rays 2-6, 5-9 mm long, slender. Calyx-tetth minute; petals white, flexed at apices. Mericarps 4.5-7.5 mm long, semi-glossy, pale orange-yellow, brown, dark yellow or orange, oblong or oblong-ellptic, apex rounded and flattened, style remnant twisted or recurve, base cordate, ribs 5, the 2 commissural broadly and evenly winged.

Similar Taxa

None. The remarkable lianoid growth habit is unique to this species, while the simple or 3-lobed, orbicular to reniform dark green, yellow-green to glaucous green leaves, and flexuose twisted petioles immediately distinguish this plant from any other apiaceous plants present in New Zealand.

Flowering

October - July

Flower Colours

White

Fruiting

December - June

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from fresh seed. An attractive and unusual scrambling scrub that makes an excellent hanging basket plant and ground cover for a free draining, sunny site. It dislikes humidity and excessive moisture.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 22

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

Yes

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 19 May 2014