Species

Mazus novaezeelandiae subsp. novaezeelandiae

Etymology

Mazus: tear (after protuberance on throat of flower)
novaezeelandiae: of New Zealand

Common Name(s)

dwarf musk

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 - DP
2009 - DP

Authority

Mazus novaezeelandiae W.R.Barker subsp. novaezeelandiae

Family

Mazaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Distribution

Endemic to New Zealand.

Habitat

This taxon prefers lowland, wet, sometimes swampy forest, pasture and is occasionally found on forest margins.

Features

A perennial, creeping herb forming compact, leafy rosettes, leaves spoon-shaped, dark green to yellow-green 20–75 mm long. The margins of the leaves may be pigmented brown. The erect inflorescence is often held well above the foliage and may bear from 1 to 5 Mimulus-like flowers, these are white with a yellow throat.

Similar Taxa

Mazus pumilio which has blue or lilac flowers and a finely toothed leaf margin. This predominantly Australian species is known in New Zealand from only one site in Northland, but is now sold by many garden centres as M. novazeelandiae.

Flowering

Flowering occurs in November.

Flower Colours

White,Yellow

Fruiting

Fruiting capsules are found from December to April.

Threats

Very susceptible to disturbance, habitat clearance and modification including stock trampling.

Chromosome No.

2n = 38

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No


Where To Buy

Attribution

Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (30 August 2003). For more information see Heenan (1998)

References and further reading

Heenan, P. B. 1998: Mazus novaezeelandiae (Scrophulariaceae): taxonomy, distribution, habitats, and conservation. New Zealand Journal of Botany 36(3): 407-416.

This page last updated on 16 Apr 2014