Species

Luzula celata

Etymology

Luzula: Latinized form of the Italian vernacular name (lucciola) for this plant
celata: hidden

Common Name(s)

dwarf woodrush

Current Conservation Status

2012 - 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

2009 - At Risk - Declining
2004 - Serious Decline

Qualifiers

2012 - RR

Authority

Luzula celata Edgar

Family

Juncaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

LUZCEL

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Rushes and Allied Plants

Synonyms

None

Distribution

Endemic. South and Stewart Islands. In the South Island found east of the main divide from Marlborough to Southland.

Habitat

Coastal to montane. Usually in shingly ground, sandy hollows, river terraces, tarn margins, often found growing within Raoulia mats.

Features

An inconspicuous, creeping woodrush, forming grey-green to brownish cushion-like tufts, usually less than 4cm diameter. Sometime half buried in sand, so that only leaf tips and flowers are visible. Leaves 1-3cm long, 0.5-1mm wide, folded inwards towards base, tips pointed; margins clad in long, thickly clustered, soft white hairs. Flowering stems much shorter than leaves, scarcely elongating as fruit matures. Flowers 2mm long, 6-16 in a single cluster, with minimal stalk.

Similar Taxa

Luzula ulophylla. Luzula celata has hairy leaf margins and flower hidden amongst leaves. L. ulophylla has woolly hairs on back of leaves as well as margins and flowering stems much taller than its leaves.

Flowering

October to December

Flower Colours

Brown,White

Fruiting

December to April (but seedheads long persistent)

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from fresh seed and division of whole plants.

Threats

The main threat throughout this species range is loss of habitat, caused by land development, weed invasion and general habitat degredation, especially erosion. Overstocking of paddocks containing this species has been a problem in some locations.

Chromosome No.

2n = 12

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Where To Buy

Not commercially available.

 

  

Attribution

Fact Sheet by P.J. de Lange (1 September 2003). Description based on Moore & Edgar (1970).

References and further reading

Moore, L.B.; Edgar, E. 1970: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. II, Wellington, Government Printer.

This page last updated on 7 May 2014