The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Daucus glochidiatus

Etymology

Daucus: An ancient Greek name
glochidiatus: Barbed

Common Name(s)

New Zealand carrot

Current Conservation Status

2018 - At Risk - Declining

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

2012 - Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable
2009 - Threatened - Nationally Critical
2004 - Serious Decline

Qualifiers

2012 - EF, SO
2009 - SO, DP

Authority

Daucus glochidiatus (Labill.) Fisch., C.A.Mey. et Avé-Lall.

Family

Apiaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

DAUGLO

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

Scandix glochidiata Labill., Daucus brachiatus Sieb. in DC.

Distribution

Indigenous, North, South and Chatham Islands.

Habitat

Coastal, lowland to montane on cliff faces, rock outcrops, talus slopes, in short tussockland or grassland and in open forest.

Features

Erect, usually hispid, yellow-green to dark reddish green, biennial up to 300-800 mm high (annual in harsh conditions), mostly sparingly branched. Stems and branches glabrescent, deeply ribbed or finely striate. Basal leaves, flaccid, withering at fruiting, glabrous or sparsely covered in stiff hairs, 2-3-pinnate, petioles, 10-150 mm long, expanding toward a ± amplexicaul base, ± glabrous or sparsely covered in stiff hairs (sometimes densely so); primary leaflets in 2-8 pairs, petiolules 4-6 mm long; ultimate segments pinnatisect to pinnatifid, ovate, linear-oblong, linear-spathulate, apices mucronulate; stem leaves similar but reduced. Umbels axillary and terminal, irregularly compound or simple in stressed specimens, on slender or stout hispid peducles up to 170 mm long. Rays 1-11, unequal, primarly up to 160 mm long, secondary up to 15 mm long; bracts (0)-2-5, linear, entire or deeply incised, sometimes pinnatisect, caducous; bracteoles 0-5, simple, linear. Flowers 1-10, c.1 mm diameter, petals white, dirty white or tinged red, withering early and shedding. Fruit ellipsoid, dark brown to red-brown (rarely pale brown), 3-5 mm long; primary ribs sparsely to moderately ciliate; secondary ribs glochidate, glochidia ± 1 mm long, apices capped.

Similar Taxa

Reduced, stressed plants of wild carrot (Daucus carota) are frequently confused with native carrot. Wild carrot differs from native carrot by its usually taller stature (up to 1.3 m tall), by the regular umbels that are concave at fruiting, and by the more numerous rays. Species of the naturalised genus Torilis (Hedge parsley) are also frequently confused with native carrot. Torilis is separated from Daucus by the floral bracts with are either absent or simple, mostly subsessile umbels bearing 2-5 rays, or pedunculate umbels with 2-12 more or less unequal rays. In comparison to wild carrot, Torilis plants are usually much taller (up to 2 m tall) and rather leafier, with the leaves much larger and less divided.

Flowering

September to February

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,White

Fruiting

November - June

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from fresh seed. Resents root disturbance so shoudldbe sown where it is wanted. Does best in a free draining, open situation. Treat as an annual

Threats

This species appears to have undergone a rapid decline over the last 30 years and is now extinct over large parts of its former range. The reason for this decline is not clear though it is likely that competition from faster growing, and taller weeds, particularly rats tail grass (Sporobolus africanus) is a key factor. Rats tail now dominates most of the northern North Island habitats that used to support native carrot.

Chromosome No.

2n = 44

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

Yes

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Spiny mericarps are dispersed by attachment (Thorsen et al., 2009)

Where To Buy

Not commercially available.

 

  

Attribution

Description based on herbarium specimens.

References and further reading

Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285-309

This page last updated on 24 Jul 2014