The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Myriophyllum votschii

Etymology

Myriophyllum: many leaves

Common Name(s)

None Known

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 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - Not Threatened

Qualifiers

2012 - Sp

Authority

Myriophyllum votschii Schindler

Family

Haloragaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

MYRVOT

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Distribution

Endemic. North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands

Features

Dioecious perennial terrestrial herb, stems prostrate (rarely erect, forming tight cushions to 70 mm high), branching freely, rooting at nodes, forming clumps to 100 mm in diameter, glabrous. Leaves all opposite, entire, obovoid, 1.8-3.5 × (0.5-)0.7-1.1 mm, ± planar or slightly concave on upper surface, convex below, spreading or slightly upward-curving, glabrous.. Hydathodes absent. Rarely, in inundated plants, submerged leaves are formed, which are linear, 2.0 × 0.2 mm. Inflorescence a terminal spike with the unisexual flowers borne in the axils of opposite upper leaves indistinguishable from lower (sterile) leaves. Male and female flowers apparently borne on separate plants. Bracteoles linear, 0.5-0.7 × 0.1-0.2 mm. Hydathodes 0. Male flowers 4-merous, sessile, usually in axils of the uppermost pair of leaves only. Sepals 0. Petals 4, green at first, becoming white with a dark reddish spot at tip (rarely, completely dark red), hooded, non-unguiculate, 1.5-1.8 × 0.7-1.0 mm, reflexed at anthesis. Stamens 8; filaments 0.2-0.3 mm long, elongating to 0.8-11.0 mm at anthesis; anthers yellow, oblong, 1.2-1.3 × 0.4 mm, 4-celled, non apiculate or very weakly apiculate. Styles 0. Ovary vestigial. Female flowers 4-merous, sessile, in axils of upper 4-8 pairs of leaves. Sepals, petals and stamens 0. Styles 4, ± sessile, stigmas white, fimbriate, capitate. Ovary green, shortly cylindrical, 0.8 × 0.6-0.8 mm, longitudinally channelled between styles, rounded opposite styles, otherwise smooth. Fruit black, depressed-globular, 0.9-1.0 × 1.1-1.4 mm, suture between mericarps buff coloured; mericarps separating at maturity. Mericarps planar on inner faces, outer face convex, smooth or very weakly punctate, sometimes with a faint median longitudinal ridge.

Flower Colours

Green,White

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from fresh seed and rooted pieces. must be kept moist. An interesting plant for a small pond or fish tank

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 14, c.21

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 13 May 2014